3 inmates killed in BJMP ambush in Cebu

(UPDATED) Three inmates, one of whom had alleged links to slain drug lord Jeffrey "Jaguar" Diaz, were ambushed and killed by unidentified assailants in Barangay Linao, Talisay City while they were on their way to a court hearing at 9:15 a.m. today, July 20.

It was the second ambush incident that occurred in Talisay City today. An hour before, a newly-elected barangay councilor was gunned down by unidentified men in Barangay Cansojong, Talisay City at 8 a.m. Friday.

READ:Village councilor gunned down in Cebu

Based on initial information from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), three inmates namely Yayam Gaviola, Marwin Abelgas and Jovencio Rabadon were being brought to the Palace of Justice in Talisay City as they were scheduled for an arraignment before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) 1.

The three inmates were onboard the Talisay City Jail's vehicle and were escorted by Jail Officer 2 Eran Marquita and Jail Officer 3 Clay Gutierrez.

READ: BJMP van strafed in Talisay City, Cebu

As the jail car was already 300 meters away from the Talisay City Jail, the jail guards encountered unidentified armed men onboard seven motorcycles.

Chief Insp. Mary Jane Inopia, Talisay City Jail warden, told SunStar Cebu that since most of the assailants were armed, they couldn't defend themselves.

Inopia said the assailants reportedly ordered Marquita and Gutierrez to lie face down the road.

As the two guards couldn't move out of fear of being shot, the assailants then turned their attention to the three inmates and started shooting them.

After shooting the three inmates, the assailants then returned to their motorcycles and sped off towards Barangay Linao.

The two jail guards brought the three inmates to the Talisay City District Hospital but they were declared dead.

Police are still trying to determine the motive behind the shooting.

Inopia said of the three inmates, only Gaviola and Abelgas are currently facing illegal drug charges. Both men were detained at the Talisay City Jail since April of last year.

Abelgas was arrested by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in 2017 due to illegal drug trafficking. Abelgas was identified by PDEA 7 official as the heir of drug lord Jeffrey "Jaguar" Diaz.

While Gaviola was identified as a "high profile inmate" of the Talisay City Jail due to his alleged connections to illegal drug sellers.

Last year, he was charged for illegal drug possession after he was caught smuggling illegal drugs inside the Talisay City Jail during a greyhound operation.

While Rabadon is currently facing a frustrated murder case. (With reports from JOB/SunStar Cebu)