2 prisoners bolt jail in Agusan

CABADBARAN, Agusan del Norte — Some jail officials and jailguards in the Caraga Region never learned their lesson as two inmates charged with drug trafficking escaped yesterday afternoon at the municipal jail here.

Inmates Victor Fortun, 41, of Butuan City and a certain Master Macaran, 42, of Barangay 6, Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte, escaped by destroying the steel bars of their cell at the Cabadbaran Municipal Jail.

Last week, some 60 inmates of the jail staged a noise barrage, accusing Jail Warden Joel Herbolingo of alleged corruption and mismanagement.

Agusan del Norte Police Provincial Director Edgar Agustin vowed to look into the problem with some of the officials of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) of Caraga Region with local government unit officials.

Incidents of jailbreaks in some local jails around Caraga Region have increased in recent weeks.

Last June 1, two detainees of the Sibagat, Agusan del Sur Municipal Jail escaped. Escapees Gilbert Catian, 14, and Jerry Daig, 19, both facing robbery charges, remain on the lam.

Caraga Police Regional Director, Atty. Alberto Rama Olario ordered the relief of the two Sibagat jailguards and the OIC municipal police chief.

Last March this year, 37 inmates of the Agusan del Sur provincial jail in Prosperidad also escaped in a daring jailbreak by digging holes in their prison cells . — Ben Serrano