BuCor confirms 4 escapees; 2 still at large

Chris Ablas

MANILA, Philippines — Not three but four inmates bolted the maximum security compound of New Bilibid Prison on Monday, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has learned.

Assistant Secretary Gabriel Chaclag, spokesperson for the BuCor, said on Tuesday that the fourth inmate, Chris Ablas of Dormitory 8C, has been confirmed to be missing.

“This means there are two unaccounted who are still at large,” he said, referring to Ablas and Drakilou Falcon, one of the three inmates initially reported to have escaped.

Falcon, 34, is serving a 24-year sentence after he was convicted of robbery with homicide and illegal possession of firearms.

He is also being tried for two counts of murder, frustrated murder, attempted murder and robbery before the Camiling Regional Trial Court in Tarlac province.

The two inmates who escaped with Falcon—Pacifico Adlawan, 49, and Arwin Bio, 35—were killed as they were pursued by BuCor personnel and Muntinlupa police.

Ablas is serving a sentence of reclusion perpetua (maximum of 40 years) with no parole for a bank robbery in December 2004, which led to a police officer getting killed and several others wounded.

He and 12 others were convicted by the Valenzuela Regional Trial Court in January 2018.

Drakilou Falcon

The BuCor said the maximum security compound remains on lockdown amid a manhunt on the two escapees.

The prison break happened despite the intensified security in the Bilibid, with BuCor putting up additional walls and gates, which the city government and residents of Muntinlupa and even the Department of Justice, its parent agency, had opposed.

The BuCor is offering a reward of P100,000 to anyone who could provide information on the two escapees, whom it described as “armed and dangerous.”

It said the reward money would come from the “collective contribution of BuCor personnel.”

The BuCor’s mobile numbers are 0918-6001081 and 0917-8046392.

—WITH A REPORT FROM DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN