BJMP: 116 escaped inmates from Cotabato jail still being hunted down

Authorities said 42 of the 168 inmates who escaped from the North Cotabato District Jail (NDCJ) have been accounted for while 116 others are still being hunted down.

In a text message to reporters, Senior Insp. Xavier Solda, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) spokesperson, said, “As of 2:20 p.m. today, 42 of 158 inmates escaped from North Cotabato District Jail had been recovered.”  

In a press statement, Solda said, “Currently, the joint forces of BJMP, PNP [Philippine National Police] and AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] are still pursuing the escapees. All units of BJMP Region 12 including facilities in nearby provinces remain on heightened alert.” 

He said BJMP chief Jail Director Serafin Barretto Jr. has gone to North Cotabato to oversee the situation.

In separate operations on Thursday, the AFP, acting on a tip they received at around 8:30 a.m., recovered 18 escaped inmates.

Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP public affairs office chief, said 17 of the inmates were recovered in Barangay Bangilan in Kabacan, North Cotabato and one in Matalam, North Cotabato. 

“Ang grupo ng 7th Infantry Batallion na pinamumunuan ni Lt. Col. Lumasque at ang grupo mula sa Cotabato Provincial Police Office ay rumesponde sa isang report na nagsasabing merong mga takas sa provincial jail ang naispatan sa Brgy. Bangilan sa Kabacan sa North Cotabato,” he said.

“Kagya’t nagpadala tayo ng pwersa doon at kanilang hinabol ang mga naturang escapees at naaresto ang 17 na mga takas na preso at muli silang naibalik sa kontrol ng BJMP. Ang isa pang takas na bilanggo ay nahuli sa Matalam, North cotabato ng isa nating personnel sa Philippine Army,” he added.

The inmates took the opportunity to escape when at least a hundred armed men attacked the jail facility early on Wednesday morning. 

Jail Officer 1 Excell Ray Vecido was killed in the firefight while five escaped inmates were killed in the follow-up operations. The five are part of the BJMP's list of 42 escaped inmates  who have been accounted for. — VVP, GMA News