7 of 12 detainees who bolted Batangas jail rearrested

BATANGAS CITY — Seven of 12 prisoners who escaped from the detention cell of the Malvar town police on Monday were re-arrested following pursuit operations in Batangas and Quezon provinces on Tuesday, police said.

Senior Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag, Batangas police director, said El King Leonida, Melvin Ona, Arvie Villegas, Freddie Santos, Artemio Castillo Jr., John Raniel Hiwatig and Morris Rap Publico were arrested in Mataas na Kahoy town and Tanauan City in Batangas, and the towns of Pagbilao and Tiaong in
Quezon.

The manhunt was conducted by personnel from the Malvar police, Batangas police intelligence branch and the provincial police’s public safety company.

Police were still searching for Diego Barola, Jerald Rivo, Leodigario Lara Jr., Carissa May Salagan and Noel Malpas, as of Tuesday.

The detainees escaped at 4 a.m. Monday after cutting off the steel bars at the back portion of their detention cell.  SFM