2 of 3 escapees from Bohol jail killed in shootout—police

Bohol District Jail PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK.COM

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Two of the three escapees from the Bohol District Jail in Tagbilaran City were killed Tuesday night in an alleged encounter with police authorities in Ubay town.

Police identified the fatalities as Mario Ilaya, 23, from Tambuan, Carmen town, and Bryan Ceniza, 23, of Napo, Inabanga town. Both were pronounced dead on arrival at the Don Emilio del Valle Memorial Hospital in Ubay.

Superintendent Jovito Atanacio, Bohol Police Provincial Intelligence Branch chief, said the two sustained multiple gunshot wounds after they initiated the shootout in Purok 2, Barangay (village) Bood at 7:30 p.m.

Ilaya was facing charges of robbery with violence and intimidation against persons while Ceniza was facing charges of murder, carnapping, highway robbery and illegal possession of firearm charges.

Atanacio said the third escapee, Exequiel Aniscal, 50, from San Vicente, Maribojoc, who was facing robbery with homicide charges, was not with the two fellow escapees when the alleged shootout occurred.

Atanacio said a joint team composed of operatives from the Bohol police intelligence branch, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Ubay police proceeded to Bood after a village watchman informed them about the presence of armed men in the area.

Atanacio said the watchman was able to confirm that the two were among those being hunted after comparing the pictures of the escapees published in newspapers in the province.

He said they waited until the two escapees emerged from a house in Purok 2, where they were reportedly staying, so no harm would come to the other occupants.

When the watchman signaled that the two had come out of the house, Atanacio said they positioned themselves waiting for the two escapees.

The police identified themselves and called on Ilaya and Ceniza to surrender but the two pulled out their guns and started shooting at them.

Atanacio said they returned fire, hitting the two.

The police recovered a .45-cal. pistol with five unspent bullets from Ceniza and a .38-cal. revolver with two live ammunition and two empty shells from Ilaya.

Ilaya, Ceniza and Aniscal escaped on Thursday afternoon from the Bohol District Jail in Cabawan District in Tagbilaran City after they poked a gun at the jail guards.

It was not yet known on how they were able to get hold of a gun inside the jail facilities.

Atanacio, for his part, asked Aniscal to surrender. He also urged Aniscal’s relatives, family and friends to convince him to surrender and assured them that he would not be harmed.