The escapees were identified as former guerrilla Allan Ocfemaria, who is charged with car theft; murder suspects Rodolfo Dacillo, Edwin Riglos, Felizardo Gonzales, Narciso Dinbanico and Richard Bea, and rape suspects Arnold Burceles and William Nasayao.
Probers said the eight inmates used a steel saw, believed smuggled in by their relatives, to cut iron grills about 10 to 15 feet long, bore a hole through the ceiling, and scaled the 11-foot high perimeter fence using a mosquito net.
The escapees 10 co-cellmates did not join the jailbreak.
Being investigated for the escape are four jail personnel who were reportedly sound asleep after a drinking bout the previous night.
Senior Superintendent Pedro Tango, Albay police director, has ordered the police units in Sto. Domingo, Daraga and Camalig towns to put up checkpoints along possible escape routes of the eight jailbreakers.