10 inmates bolt Bataan town jail; manhunt on

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – Ten detainees escaped from the Dinalupihan municipal jail in Bataan on Palm Sunday, a day before President Arroyo was to visit the province.

The escapees were identified as Carlito Almene, Edward Bacane, Roberto Ragare, Armando Lesma, Jomar Noveros, Sumulong del Castillo, Samy Faustino, Fredierec Go, Arnel Teodoro and David Kayanan.

Police said the 10 are awaiting trial in various courts in Bataan for murder, robbery, rape and other heinous crimes.

Teodoro was later recaptured in his house by pursuing policemen and jail guards.

Bataan police director Superintendent Perfecto Palad said the escapees passed through the wall of their cell’s bathroom, which they had slowly destroyed with a nail for the past six days.

Palad said the jailbreak took place shortly after midnight Sunday but was only discovered the following morning during the morning headcount of detainees.

Palad said Teodoro told police investigators that the escape was planned by Almene and Kayanan, who wanted to be with their families during Holy Week.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to launch a manhunt for the nine remaining escapees.

He instructed BJMP director Chief Superintendent Arturo Alit to investigate the jailbreak and relieve the Dinalupihan jail warden and the jail guards if evidence would point to their negligence.

Lina has also ordered BJMP regional directors nationwide to place on red alert personnel in all city, district, and municipal jails during the Lenten season. – Ric Sapnu, Jaime Laude