3 jail personnel, inmate slain in Cebu ambush

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III arrives in the crime scene. CDN Photo/ Junjie Mendoza

CEBU CITY – Two personnel from the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), and a male inmate were killed in an ambush at Unit 5 in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City at past 9 a.m. on Thursday.

Killed were Prison Guard 1 Bernie Bayutas, the driver Joel Tevez, and CPDRC inmate Jerryfer Perigrino.

Perigrino was considered a high-profile inmate and was detained for drug charges.

Chief Insp. Eduard Sanchez, Guadalupe Police Station chief, said the victims were on board a CPDRC-owned vehicle when the incident happened.

The inmate was about to attend a court hearing at Quimonda.

“They were about to go to court when two suspects riding separate motorcycles shot them,” said Sanchez.

Sanchez added that they were still getting the background of the victims. Perigrino was considered a high-value target.

City Police director Senior Supt. Royina Garma said this might be a “rescue operation” of Perigrino.

“This could be a rescue operation because you are not going to ambush if you are in a disadvantageous position,” said Garma.

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said all jail guards were under investigation.

CPDRC warden Reynaldo Valmoria said the victims were going to Quinonda to file a case against Perigrino.

“Perigrino was supposed to go to court yesterday for presentation but it was already cut off,” said Valmoria.

Four medium packs of shabu and drug paraphernalia were found inside the cell of Perigrino after a greyhound operation on August 4.

In 2016, it was reported that a red car allegedly owned by Perigrino was being parked inside CPDRC.