Four inmates escaped after they saw the steel bars of a prison cell in Mabalacat City Police, Tuesday dawn.
“Meron din kaming tinitingnan na possibility na meron silang kasabwat sa mga kamag-anak nilang dumadalaw dito na maaring nakapagpapuslit nung ginamit nilang pang lagare,” said Col. Jean Fajardo, provincial director ng Pampanga Police Provincial Office.
(We also see the possibility of the inmates conspiring with their relatives who visited here and gave them the saw.)
In the CCTV footage, it was seen the suspects were sawing the lower part of the prison cell. When they managed to remove one steel bar, the inmates escaped one by one.
They were identified as Abelardo Miclat and Alberto Laxamana; both are involved in drug cases, and Alfie Dela Cruz, who was arrested for raping a minor.
But one of them, Teejay Castro, who was involved in the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, was immediately chased by police while fleeing.
“Parang natukso na lang rin ako [I got tempted],” said Castro.
Also read: Nigerian, Cameroonian arrested in drug buy bust
4 inmates escape Mabalacat City prison
The other inmates defended, saying they had no idea what had happened.
Police promised they would not stop until the prisoners were taken back to jail.
“Tulungan n’yo kami na kumbinsihin yung mga mahal n’yo sa buhay na makakabuti na sumuko sila dahil hindi kami titigil hanggang hindi sila nakikita,” warned Fajardo.
(Help us convince your loved ones that it is best to surrender because we will not stop until they are caught).
As a result of this incident, the Mabalacat City Police chief has been removed from office while the duty jail officer has been charged with negligence.