Saturday, February 09, 2008 Zambo Norte strengthens detention security By Bong Garcia
OFFICIALS of Zamboanga del Norte have fortified further the perimeter fence of the provincial jail to prevent another escape of inmates from the province's detention facility.
Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Jail Warden Fortunato Reganion Jr. said they have increased the height of the perimeter concrete fence of the detention facility by adding more barbwire on top to prevent any escape of detained inmates.
Reganion said they have also heightened the round-the-clock security measure at the detention facility.
Seventy jail guards on shifts are watching the provincial jail 24 hours a day.
The facility is located in the village of Don Aguirre, Manukan municipality. It houses more than 200 detainees from the province.
Last January 25, seven inmates bolted from the Zamboanga del Norte provincial jail by sawing the iron bars of their detention cell.
Of the seven escapees, two were back at the detention facility.
One faces charges for acts of lasciviousness. He was recaptured by the police last January 27 in the village of Irasan in the town of Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte.
Another escapee who is facing charges in court for statutory rape surrendered to the police last week.
The police and jail guards are continuously conducting manhunt operations in a bid to recapture the remaining five escapees who are still at large.
