3 jail escapees in Masbate slain

LEGAZPI CITY –– Three detainees who escaped from jail in Masbate province were killed in a police operation in Milagros town on Wednesday afternoon, a belated police report said Thursday.

Masbate police said in a report that, while conducting a manhunt operation, authorities were fired upon by escapees, prompting them to retaliate in Barangay Bonbon around 5:30 p.m.

Inmates were identified as Bryan Basulgan, 22; Jose Jeven Fuentes, 30; and Richard Espayos, 37, who escaped around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday by cutting and bending the bottom railings of the cell in Masbate Provincial Jail in Barangay Matiporon of said town.

Another escapee identified as Homer Aganan, 26, evaded arrest, the report said.

Recovered in the area were a 12-gauge homemade shotgun with three live ammunitions and a fired cartridge of the same caliber.