15 Cotabato jail escapees recaptured; 138 still at large

Policemen patrol the walls of the North Cotabato District Jail in Kidapawan City in Cotabato province after a massive jailbreak early Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017. In one of the country’s largest jailbreaks in recent years, nearly 160 inmates escaped after suspected Muslim rebels attacked the jail before dawn Wednesday killing at least six people as pursuing government forces traded fire with gunmen, officials said. AP

Edited at 9:25 a.m., Jan. 5, 2016, to update number of recaptured escapees.

KIDAPAWAN CITY — Authorities said 15 of the 158 escapees from the North Cotabato District Jail in Barangay Amas here had either been recaptured or had surrendered while five had been killed as of Thursday.

Supt. Peter Bongngat, the jail warden, said the manhunt was continuing for the remaining escapees.

With 138 inmates – many facing serious crimes like bombing, kidnapping and murder – still at large, Bongngat said the task of recapturing the fugitives was not easy.

But he said the manhunt was continuing and had been expanded to other parts of the province and nearby areas. CBB