3 killed in Masbate jailbreak

NAGA CITY, Philippines—Two jail officials and a prisoner were killed by four inmates as they broke out of jail in Palanas town, 56 kilometers from Masbate City, Tuesday evening, police said Wednesday.

Initial investigation showed the four inmates assaulted the jail officials and a fellow inmate who refused to flee with them with wooden clubs at around 6:30 p.m.

Senior Inspector Lope Badillo, Palanas police chief, said the two jail officials could not have anticipated the assault as the prisoners were preparing dinner at the kitchen in the jail facility, “which apparently has relaxed rules.”

He identified the fatalities as Senior Jail Officer 1 Rene C. Danao, deputy jail warden; Jail Officer 2 Julius Cervantes; and inmate Romeo Puson.

The escapees, identified as Rommel Padailap, Jessies Cabier, Romeo Olasla Jr. and Felipe Alargo, took with them an M16 rifle, a shotgun, and a handgun of unknown caliber, said Badillo.

They were facing charges ranging from rape, frustrated murder to murder.

Danao was rushed to the Cataingan District Hospital in neighboring Cataingan town but was declared dead on arrival while Puson was pronounced dead shortly after being brought to the same hospital.  Cervantes died the following morning in the same hospital.

Badillo said the concrete fences in the jail facility were low, which was “around six bricks high and only the back portion has barbed wire.”

There were only five prisoners in the jail at the time, he said.

He could not elaborate, however, on the whereabouts of the jail warden as an investigation was still ongoing.

Elements of the police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and Army were looking for the escapees and checkpoints were set up in areas believed to be their escape routes. With a report from Mar Arguelles, Inquirer Southern Luzon