5 North Cotabato fugitives killed, 5 recaptured; 8 surrendered

Update

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato — Local authorities investigating the jail break at the North Cotabato District Jail said on Wednesday five of the 158 escapees were killed during pursuit operations while eight others had either been recaptured or had surrendered.

Those killed were identified as Joey Aranas, Allan Tolentino, Edfel Lescano, Rapacon Amboludto Dimawan and Adonis Cedeño.

Recaptured were Jason Angkunan, Wennie Rota Koremo, Faisal Tiburon, Joselito tomines, Jerome Oguit. They were supposed to be heading towards Matalam town in North Cotabato when intercepted near the North Cotabato District Jail.

Richel Vales Flores, Joreste Robles Perdido and Ruta Coremo voluntarily surrendered to authorities in Matalam a few hours after the jail break.

Police have accused the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, a breakaway group from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, of pulling of the jailbreak that happened at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Felix Capalla, one of the jail inmate leaders, said the inmates, the jail guards and the local police have been warned of an impending attack and jailbreak.  He said policemen were deployed at the jail before New Year but were pulled out on Jan. 2, 2017.  SFM