Inmate escapes in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Authorities are still in pursuit of an inmate from Davao Penal Colony (Dapecol) who escaped while being escorted to a local court in Kabacan town in North Cotabato last Monday.

Kabacan police chief Supt. Joseph Semillano identified the inmate as Montahed Alimuden Macalipat, who faces several counts of carnapping, drug trafficking, and frustrated murder cases.

Semillano said three prison guards from Dapecol in Davao del Norte escorted Macalipat to Kabacan town where the inmate would be tried of drug trafficking cases at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 22 of Judge Laureano Alzate.

When they reached the terminal in Kabacan town around 9:30 a.m. Monday, they boarded a tricycle on their way to the court located inside the compound of the Kabacan Municipal Hall.

Minutes after they left the terminal, three unidentified persons flagged down the tricycle along the highway in Kabacan town and at gunpoint ordered the prison guards to free Macalipat.

The inmate boarded a motorcycle parked near the highway and fled with the armed men following on another motorcycle.

Semillano said the suspects obviously planned the escape of Macalipat long before the scheduled court hearing.

“It was well planned that caught the prison guards by surprise,” said Semillano.