By Cecille Suerte Felipe
MANILA, Philippines – At least 42 escapees from the North Cotabato District Jail were recaptured a day after armed men stormed the jail facilities, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said yesterday.
BJMP director Serafin Barretto Jr. said the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have joined jail operatives in pursuing the remaining fugitives.
Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said a joint pursuit operation was launched after some escapees were monitored in the nearby Kabacan and Matalam towns.
It led to the capture of 18 escapees yesterday.
Tan said troops in nearby towns were also alerted and ordered to conduct blocking operations to catch the rest of the prisoners who joined the escape when about 100 rebels stormed the provincial jail in Kidapawan and rescued a dozen of their detained comrades.
Chief Insp. Joyce Birrey, North Cotabato police spokesman, said wounded inmates Peter John Ararao and John Meir Selgas were sent to a hospital for treatment.
Although authorities have yet to officially confirm which group was behind the raid, some officials said it was led by Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) Commander Derby, who was previously detained at the facility for illegal possession of firearms and possession of illegal drugs.
Derby bolted jail in the last quarter of 2016.
Read the full story at The Philippine Star