13 inmates bolt Negros jail

MANILA, Philippines - Thirteen inmates bolted a jail yesterday by assaulting jail guards in Sagay, Negros Occidental.

Inspector Xavier Solda, spokesman of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), told The STAR last night that the escape occurred at around 5 p.m. as jail guards were conducting a head count.

One of the inmates, identified as Rolando Bajo, pointed a .38 caliber gun at a guard while inmate Rey Villanueva disarmed another guard with a knife.

Bajo then fired at a cell’s padlock, enabling other inmates to escape, a report to the BJMP said. 

Solda said aside from Bajo and Villanueva , other inmates who escaped were Gilbert Maneja, Resty Dacaldacal, Richard Dacaldacal, Jake Española, Jolito Subtenente, Aarmando Dilao, Marjun Bandala, Joemar Libester, Jimmy Bistar, and Jonard Quirante. Another one was not immediately identified.

The fugitives are in jail for charges of murder, possession of illegal drugs, and robbery with homicide, frustrated murder and rape.

Solda said the BJMP immediately ordered an investigation into the escape and dispatched teams to recapture the prisoners.