4 inmates bolt Batangas jail

BATANGAS, Philippines – Four inmates bolted the provincial jail in Batangas City before dawn last Sunday, but police managed to re-arrest two of them.

Senior Superintendent Rosauro Acio, Batangas police director, identified the jail-breakers as Mariano Basilan, who is facing murder charges; Randy Merelles, robbery with homicide; John Kenneth de Villa, rape; and Peter Borce, robbery.

Police said the four inmates escaped through the ceiling of their cell at around 3:30 a.m. Sunday.

Jail guards later re-arrested Merelles and Borce. A manhunt is ongoing for Basilan and De Villa.

Police said Borce was rushed to the Batangas Regional Hospital after one of the pursuing jail guards shot him in the back.

Authorities said the jail guards who were on duty during the jailbreak would be investigated for possible administrative charges against them.