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Monday, May 05, 2003
27 inmates bolt Misamis jail; 14 yield
CAGAYAN DE ORO -- No less than 27 inmates bolted out of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail (MOPJ) along Luna and Corrales Streets in this city at 4:45 a.m. Sunday.
Police from the city, province and region were immediately dispatched to the mountainous areas of Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro where the inmates are believed to be hiding.
Security volunteers in the hinterland barangays were likewise deployed to assist the police in the capture of the fugitive inmates who were detained at cells 1, 2 and 3.
The incident took place while garbage was being collected from the prisoners' respective cells.
The suspected brains in the escape, identified as Fernando Acosta alias "Kumander Makabali," surrendered to authorities hours after the incident.
Acosta was the leader of the dreaded "Desperadong Magahat" gang tagged in the kidnapping of Jasaan Vice Mayor Juan Po and his aide last year.
He is facing charges of kidnapping with illegal detention, grave threats and physical injuries as a result of the incident.
Later, another batch of his companions also yielded peacefully to police.
Killed, injured
One of the escapees, a certain Fernando Natengga, died on the spot after jumping from a ravine in Barangay F.S. Catanico in an attempt to evade pursuing law enforcers.
Three of his companions identified as Jose Asendante, Jerry Quinquinio and Jinky Humaynon were injured.
Quinquinio sustained a gunshot wound on the right foot inflicted by pursuing authorities while Jose Asendante broke his hip. Boyet Dacutan also sustained a broken foot.
As of Sunday afternoon, 14 of the inmates were already re-captured and brought back to the MOPJ.
Among them are 20-year-old Edwin Lepanta, who faces homicide charges; 50-year-old Sevillo Cuervo, jailed for robbery; 28-year-old Edwin Bolta, for kidnapping; 36-year-old Jenero Onde, for murder; Ruel Humaynon facing frustrated murder charges; 42-year-old Feliciano Pasumala for rape, Angelito Gonzaga for murder and Ermilo Sigla for homicide.
A double security alert is now imposed at the MOPJ building.
Acosta reportedly threatened to blow up the city jail with an improvised explosive device. He said he had in his hand four sardine cans packed with explosive power and matches.
He then threw the cans at the jail guards who responded by dropping to the ground for cover thinking these objects were improvised dynamites.
Solitary confinement
Acosta and the group then hurled improvised spears or Indian pana at the jail guards. Team leader Jaime Sabello was hit on the neck during the attack but was declared out of danger.
The six assigned to secure the area during the escape were identified as night supervisor Dominador Tagarda and jail guards Cesar Cartagena, Dario Gondaya, Purisimo Buctot and Sabello.
During the initial investigation, Jail administrator Demosthenes Arbilon said there was a group of escapees who rode a jeepney driven by one Noel Ramas of Barangay Macabalan.
Arbilon said the 15 suspects asked Ramas to bring them to Tablon near the Nestle plant. Ramas told Arbilon that one of them poked a bladed weapon on him.
Acting city police chief Antonio Montalba, together with the jail guards, pursued the suspects until Sitio Palalan in Barangay Tablon and managed to convince Acosta and his companions to surrender to them peacefully.
Acosta said he decided to escape after receiving information that somebody paid off a fellow prisoner to kill him inside the prison.
"Somebody went to our house and informed my family that my life is in danger. That was the reason I decided to escape as there is no assurance of my life even inside the said jail," he said in Cebuano.
Misamis Oriental Gov. Antonio Calingin laughed off Acosta's claims, saying the fugitive just made up the story because he knew he would face additional charges when he escaped from prison.
Acosta and the group were placed in solitary confinement immediately after arriving at the city jail. Authorities are now hunting down the other escapees who are believed to be in the hinterland barangays of Opol town in Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon. Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro
(May 5, 2003 issue)
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