TWENTY-TWO inmates bolted out from the Valencia City jail in Barangay Pinatilan Wednesday afternoon taking with them six shotguns and five 9mm firearms from the prison’s armory.
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Northern Mindanao director Marlon Torregae said the prisoners bolted out around 2:45 in the afternoon.
Torregae identified the two inmates as Dionisio Daulog and Albert Espinosa, both students of the Department of Education (DepEd) Alternative Learning System (ALS). They excused themselves from their classes to urinate.
Torregae said Daulog and Espinosa overpowered Jail Officer 1 (JO1) Jovy Rasonabe who was sitting at the administration office and the two other female jail officers JO1 Anna Lee Galvez and Helen Pernites.
“They took the key of the armory, opened it and took the guns as they opened the prison cells releasing other prisoners,” Torregae said.
Torregae said that 22 inmates exited at the rear gate of the facility and disappeared into the vast farmlands.
At press time, Torregae said they have captured five escapees already.
Valencia BJMP chief Guy Jason Reyes said the whole Bukidnon province is on red alert as the police and the army’s 8th Infantry Battalion pursue the remaining 17 escapees.
“The hot pursuit operation will continue until they are put back to prison,” Torregae said.
Torregae also added that they are reviewing the profiles of the escapees. Most of those who escaped are involved in illegal drugs trade.
The escapees are armed and dangerous, thus, police cautioned the public against them.
No shoot to kill order has been issued yet.
Meanwhile, the two female jail officers who were held hostage and bounded at the jail facility are now safe.