ZAMBOANGA CITY—Police are on a manhunt for four inmates who bolted their police detention cell in Roxas town, Zamboanga del Norte at dawn of Thursday (Aug. 20).
Brig. Gen. Jesus Cambay Jr., regional police chief, ordered the manhunt for Welly Celino Catoy, 23; Robert Quinicar Quinto, 46; Wilfredo Antiquino Espelita,19; and Roger Barillo Feras.
The inmates escaped by cutting the iron bars of the Roxas police’s detention cell using a guitar string.
Cambay said the prisoners’ escape went unnoticed because of the heavy rains around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday.
Cambay directed all police stations in the province to post photos of the four inmates on social media.
He said he also ordered all police units to seal off all possible routes “to ensure that escapees cannot pass through.”
He urged families and relatives of the escapees not to harbor the fugitives and worsen their plight.
“For after all, they are not yet guilty but merely held for investigation and trial,” Cambay said.
The four are facing charges of illegal gun possession, drug offenses and attempted homicide.