16-year-old escapee from La Union rehab center recaptured after 3 months

One of at least four youths who escaped from a rehabilitation center in La Union province last April was recaptured in Pangasinan province this week.

Police acting on a tip caught the 16-year-old at his house in Barangay Poblacion in Binalonan in Pangasinan, GMA Dagupan reported Friday.

"Nami-miss ko lang po yung pamilya ko, tapos gusto ko lang po silang makita," the 16-year-old told GMA News.

When asked if his family would visit him at the rehabilitation center, he said, "minsan-minsan lang po kung may pera sila."

The boy and three others escaped from the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth in Bauang town in La Union last April.

He had been brought there in February 2014 on charges of theft and attempted homicide.

Binalonan police head Chief Inspector Oliver Abayan said the boy had been linked to fights.

"Ito kasi marami na tayong record dito hindi lang sa nakaw. Pati yung mga away-away riyan, habitual yung ginagawa niya eh," Abayan said.

Police said the boy even tried to flee when he saw a police team but was still caught.

Abayan said they will turn over the boy to the court handling the cases against him. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News