BREAKING: 2 inmates bolt QC jail during earthquake drill

MANILA, Philippines — Two inmates escaped from the Quezon City Jail while the Metro Manila-wide shake drill was being conducted early Saturday morning.

READ: LOOK: NCR residents join metro-wide shake drill as Batanes experiences real quake

Initial report from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), the inmates were identified as Mamerto Valenzuela, facing charges of rape; and Dennis Valdez, facing drug charges.

Neil Camalig, a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) personnel, told police officers that the two so-called “persons deprived of liberty” were missing from QC jail at around 4 a.m. while the earthquake drill was ongoing.

BJMP Spokesperson Chief Inspector Xavier Solda told INQUIRER.net that the manhunt operation to catch the detainees is still ongoing, noting that the inmates escaped through a manhole.

“Hanggang ngayon tuloy pa rin ang manhunt [especially yung passage dun] sa manhole. Dumaan sila [inmates] sa drainage system pati personnel ng BJMP nandun,” Solda said in a phone interview. /jpv