10 INMATES ESCAPE BATANGAS JAIL; 8 RECAPTURED

TEN persons deprived of liberty (PDL) on Monday morning escaped from the Batangas Provincial Jail in Ibaan, Batangas.

Eight of the 10 were caught during pursuit operations while two others are being hunted.

A report submitted to Police Regional Office 4A director Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky stated that the inmates bolted the Batangas Provincial Jail in Bgy. Malainin in Ibaan  at 10 a.m.  Monday.

An investigation showed the PDLs were being escorted by a prison guard to a public utility room when one of them suddenly pointed an ice pick at the jail guard.

The inmate then grabbed the prison guard’s service firearm.

The other prisoners took advantage of the situation and fled towards Bgy. Quilo also in Ibaan town.

Five of the escapees boarded a northbound Alps passenger bus in an attempt to flee.

Batangas Police Provincial Director Col. Geovanny Sibalo immediately sent a tracker team and used a drone to monitor the direction of the bus. They also coordinated with other units along Star Tollway.

Sibalo said with the help of a drone, the SWAT team of the Batangas Police, in coordination with the Sto. Tomas PNP intercepted the bus in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

The bus driver told probers that when they were informed that some of the escapees were on board the bus, he pulled over the vehicle at the side of the road along the Star Tollway and told his conductor to pee to let the pursuing cops come near them.

“Nung may nakapagsabi po na may sakay kami na mga takas at may sumusunod na mga pulis ay ginawan ko po ng paraan na igilid ang bus at sinabihan ko ang aking konduktor na umihi. Tinanong ko din iyong mga pasahero kung may gustong umihi wala naman daw po,” the bus driver told probers.

The SWAT team negotiated with the escapees to surrender.

The five fugitives peacefully turned themselves over to the authorities.

Police  denied of a hostage-taking, saying all bus passengers, including the driver and conductor, were safe and unharmed.

The three other escapees were arrested by pursuing lawmen in Bgy. Quilo, Ibaan municipality.

A hot pursuit operation is being conducted  for the arrest of the two other inmates who remain at-large.

Meanwhile, in a television interview, the rearrested prisoners said they were being maltreated at the Batangas jail, which forced them to escape.