Manila police recapture 9 jail-breakers

The nine inmates who managed to escape Manila Police District Station 1 in Tondo, Manila, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Police recaptured all nine as of November 13. Photo courtesy of MPD

MANILA, Philippines — Police have recaptured all nine escapees of Manila Police District (MPD) Station 1 in Tondo, authorities said Monday.

The MPD said the arrest of the last escapee happened early Monday in Cavite.

Police said Jefferson Tumbaga was captured at 2:15 a.m. at a compound along Narra Street, Molino Road in Bacoor City.

Another fugitive named Master Cedric Zodiacal was caught on Friday, November 10, while the seven others – Arnold Olino, MJ Tuazon, Jericho Andal Antipuesto, Albert Calayas, Gian Carlo Rayala, Adriano Zilmar, and John Joseph Laguna – were seized from different parts of Metro Manila on the same day all nine bolted the Station 1 jail on November 8.

Police said the runaways escaped by dismantling the iron grill on the side of the detention facility.

Eleven jail guards have since been removed from their posts pending investigation, according to the MPd.

MPD acting director Colonel Arnold Thomas Ibay earlier said they are looking at the extent of negligence that the 11 jail officers may have committed, which resulted in the escape of the nine detainees. He also said that investigators were interviewing the recaptured fugitives to get more details about their escape.

Ibay said they would inspect MPD detention facilities to avoid similar incidents in the future.