20 inmates escape from Isabela jail

ILAGAN, Isabela — Twenty inmates, slated to be transferred to the National Penitentiary, bolted the provincial jail Monday night while jail guards were reportedly engrossed in watching television.

Eduardo Clarin, assistant provincial warden, said the escapees sawed off the iron grills of the "conjugal room’s" window and used blankets in scaling the jail’s perimeter fence.

Gov. Faustino Dy Jr. has formed a three-man panel to investigate the jailbreak, while police have launched a provincewide manhunt for the jailbreakers.

The 20 escapees are the following: Peligan Otangan, Alvaro Bacolod, Ignacio Cayetano, Arnold Binasoy, Jerome Binggo and Samuel Deocares, all murder suspects; Jonathan Valdez, Arnel Domingo and Mateo Bonifacio, all facing rape charges; Rufino Domingo, rape with homicide;

Robert Ngayaan, Gil Calica and Tuppang Joseph, all charged with homicide; Elvis Bobod, illegal possession of explosives; Leo Cara, robbery with homicide; Danilo Ramos and Cornelio Simon, both robbery suspects; Joselito Martin, theft and robbery; and Eldival Claya and Jeffrey Aborde. — Lito Salatan, Perseus Echeminada and Charlie Lagasca