Wednesday, February 28, 2007 2 inmates remain elusive By Ruby P. Silubrico
TWO of three inmates who bolted from the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) last week remain elusive despite the manhunt operation conducted by the jail personnel and the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).
However, IRC Jail Warden Juan Mabugat hopes that they would be arrested soon through the help of their family members.
Mabugat said the family of fugitive Mario Lozada is coordinating with the police and vowed to convince him to surrender if they see him.
"We are still coordinating with the family members of Lozada and Vincent Espinosa to urge them to surrender peacefully to avoid any untoward incident," Mabugat said.
Mabugat said he has not received any surrender feelers from Lozada and Espinosa since they bolted from the IRC last February 13 along with Mamerto Barranco, who surrendered a day after.
Mabugat believes that Espinosa and Lozada are still in Panay and only hiding through the help of their friends and relatives.
Iloilo Governor Niel D. Tupas Sr recently announced that he is willing to give P30, 000 reward to the person who can help the arrest of the two fugitives.
The inmates bolted by destroying the iron grills of their cells and then jumped off towards the back portion of the building.
