All six detainees who escaped from a detention cell at a police station in Cagayan de Oro City on Monday, January 12, 2026, were recaptured after nearly 36 hours.

The detainees escaped at past midnight by cutting the jail bars with a hacksaw.

The escapees reportedly tricked a girl who was near the detention cell into bringing them a hacksaw. The detention cell is located outside the police station. The salt mixture, allegedly used to weaken the jail bars, was reportedly brought in by the detainees’ visitors.

One of the escapees was recaptured a few hours after the breakout. The five others were rearrested during hot pursuit.

Police said the five escapees were tracked in separate locations. Two were rearrested in Barangay Camaman-an while another was found hiding with relatives in Don Carlos, Bukidnon.

The remaining two, including the alleged leader of the escape, were arrested at a grassy area of Upper Puerto morning on Tuesday, January 13.

“Sa ila pang alegasyon, napugos ra man gyud sila, gipugos ra man gyud sila ni…despite nga wala sila nag-interest. Mao to, nahadlok na hinuon sila mobalik tungod kay nagtuo sila nga pasakitan sila pero gi-ensure kana nga ang ilang tawhanong katungod ug ilang rights ato gyud gi-protektahan,” Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) Spokesperson, Capt. Emilita Simon, said.

Authorities added one of the detainees admitted escaping because he did not want to remain in jail.

”Naghuna-huna siya nga molayas kay lagi wala man siya’y i-pyansa, at the same time, gi-deny iyang request or application for indigency, waiver para sa pyansa,” Simon added.

Five of the escapees have pending drug-related cases while the other is facing an attempted rape charge.

Despite the recapture of all six escapees, police said administrative charges will still be filed against the former Puerto Police Station chief, Major Amanollah Bantuas, along with other personnel involved.

Police Major Amier Naifh Maruhom has since assumed office as the new Puerto Police Station commander starting Monday night.

“Iya gyud gi-remind ang atong kapulisan nga ato gyud i-recall pagbalik ang atong duties and functions, dili nato i-overlook kay part of the duties and functions kini atong designation,” Simon said.