Samar escapee shot dead, another recaptured

CALBAYOG, Samar – An escapee was shot dead while another was recaptured in separate operations conducted by the police and agents of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) hunting down 16 inmates who bolted the city jail last Wednesday.

Nelwin Juanerio was shot about 5:30 a.m. Friday when he allegedly tried to grab the firearm of one of the arresting officers in Barangay Cacaransan, about a kilometer from Calbayog City jail and three kilometers from the city center.

About eight hours earlier, the police and BJMP personnel captured Rowell Cuanico about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday also in Barangay Cacaransan.

Among the escapees being hunted by the police and BJMP team are murder suspects Malix Lucente, Efren Pante, Edwin Abria, Gerry Dealagdon, Ian Pante and Romeo Carpio.

The others are robbery suspect Freddie Cagomoc; Joey Agas and Dante Helilio, both charged with  highway robbery;  and Dindo Calagos,  Romeo Coligado and Romeo Pinote who were all charged with rape.

Also being hunted are Roberto Pintuan, who is accused of violating Republic Act 9262 or Violence Against Women and Children Act; and Crisanto delos Reyes, who is charged with frustrated murder.

Superintendent Elmer Cinco, Calbayog police chief, said a community official tipped off the authorities that Cuanico, a murder suspect from Northern Samar, was hiding  in Cacaransan.

The informer was told that Cuanico had borrowed a flashflight from a resident.

Law enforcers went to Cacaransan and arrested Cuanico about 9:30 p.m. on April 3.

The police team spotted Juanerio inside a nipa hut near a ricefield in  Cacaransan about 5:30 a.m.  Friday.

Cinco said the escapee was shot when he tried to grab the firearm of one of the arresting officers.

Juanerio was taken to the Calbayog district hospital where he was declared dead.

Police and BJMP personnel were continuing their hunt for the rest of the escapees, Cinco said.