THE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Western Visayas now believes that the saw used in the jailbreak at the Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) last week was smuggled via deliveries to the jail.
BJMP-Western Visayas Spokesperson lawyer Jairus Anthony Dogelio said the saw used by escapees Francisco Epogon, Marvin Celeste, Danilo Celeste, Alejandro Montoya, and Daniel Tamon were either smuggled within food or clothing handed over by visiting family or friends.
Dogelio said visitation at the jail had been suspended ever since the Covid-19 pandemic began, although food and clothing deliveries are allowed. BJMP personnel was tasked to accept them and hand them over to jail inmates.
He also revealed that at least 15 millimeters of a steel bar of Cell #6 were sawed off by the escapees.
Following the findings, Dogelio added they will start checking every item being delivered by visitors into the jail, prior to being handed over to the inmates.
Last Tuesday, June 28, 2021, Epogon, the Celester brothers, Montoya, and Tamon bolted out of the NODJ located in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City.
The BJMP later sacked Jail Superintendent Pricel Arevalo due to the incident.
The following day, authorities tracked down the escapees in Barangay Blumentritt in the town of Murcia that led to the death of Marvin Celeste and Tamon's recapture.
On Friday, police and BJMP tracked down the remaining three escapees in Barangay San Fernando in Talisay City that led to the death of Danilo Celeste.
Police are still searching for Epogon and Montoya, warning the public that both escapees are "armed and dangerous" and urged them to contact their nearest police station if sighted.
A bounty of P10,000 for each of the two remaining escapees was also offered to those who can give details that will lead to their recapture.