10 PDLs escape Batangas jail

Ten persons deprived of liberty (PDL) broke out of Batangas jail on Monday morning while they were being escorted to the public utility room, according to authorities. 

“A prison guard was escorting the prisoners to the public utility room when one of the prisoners pointed an ice pick at him, took his service firearm and pointed at him, while other prisoners took advantage of the said situation,” the Police Regional Office 4A (PRO 4A) said. 

“At that instance, the PDLs fled on foot towards the direction of Barangay Quilo, Ibaan, Batangas,” it added.

In a separate statement, the Batangas provincial government said that there were eight PDLs who were able to escape. 

Governor Vilma Santos-Recto ordered a probe into the incident. 

Provincial Administrator Atty. Joel Montealto said the facility is a new provincial jail where 792 male PDLs were transferred last June 24. 

According to the provincial government, the security protocols in the facility are not yet in order. 

A hot pursuit operation is now being conducted, according to the police.

Around 1 p.m. the police received verified information that 5 PDLs boarded a bus and pretended to be passengers, said Police Lt. Col. Marlon Cabataña, Chief of Police, Sto. Tomas City Police Station in a press conference on Monday afternoon.

The bus was flagged down and negotiations were done so the PDLs will surrender peacefully.

After 20 to 30 minutes, the PDLs surrendered to authorities and undergoing custodial debriefing.

Cabataña they are preparing to file additional cases related to their escape from the jail facility and the confiscation of a firearm and bladed weapon found in the possession of the PDLs. —VAL/BAP, GMA Integrated News