MITCH M. LIPA
Intensive manhunt operations continue for the remaining three inmates, who escaped from the Negros Occidental District Jail in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City on June 29.
Two of their companions were cornered in Barangay Blumentritt, Murcia town on June 30 that resulted in the death of Marvin Celeste and injuries to Daniel Tamon, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology said.
Celeste, of Brgy. Gawahon, Victorias City, had pending charges for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, while Tamon of Brgy. Kumaliskis, Don Salvador Bendicto town, is facing murder charges.
The other fugitives are Francisco Epogon of Cauayan, of the notorious Epogon robbery group, who is facing charges for robbery with homicide; Danilo Celeste of Victorias City, the brother of Marvin, who is facing carnapping, robbery, and illegal possession of firearms and attempted homicide, and Alejandro Montoya of Victorias City, who is charged for carnapping, robbery, acts of lasciviousness, and attempted homicide.
The BJMP has offered a reward of P10,000 for each of the escapees.
P/Capt. Jerald Muya of the Murcia Police Station said barangay officials of Blumentritt reported to authorities the presence of unidentified persons in the area reportedly stealing some personal belongings of residents.
The PNP acted on the complaints and helped a tracking team from the BJMP, believing that these unidentified persons were the escapees from NODJ. The suspects were hiding in a sugarcane field in Hacienda Velez, Barangay Blumentrit, and when the operatives were closing in, a firefight ensued, resulting in the death of Marvin and the recapture of Tamon.
BJMP-6 spokesperson, Atty. Jairus Anthony Dogelio, said the investigation continues on how the escapees were able to get their hands on the improvised chainsaw, that was reportedly used in cutting the steel bar of the prison cell, since the NODJ is on lockdown due to the pandemic.
This is one thing that the NODJ personnel have to answer in the ongoing investigation, he said, adding that the BJMP is supposed to be very strict in its inspection of food from outside being given to the prisoners since visitors are prohibited in the jail facility because of the pandemic.
The escapees used cloths and blankets as a makeshift rope to scale the 20-foot fence of the jail compound and escape early morning of June 29. – MML
