1 dead as 7 inmates bolt Maguindanao jail

COTABATO CITY – Authorities shot dead one of the seven inmates who bolted the Maguindanao Provincial Jail (MPJ) on PC Hill here at 2 a.m. Thursday.

MPJ Administrator Almanza Malicol identified the slain escapee as Michael Balitoc, “the last one to come out of jail, and who ignored the warning shots.”

Malicol said warning shots were fired when jail officers learned of the
escape.

The jail guards “were forced to fire at him,” Malicol said.

The six others, who managed to flee were now being hunted down, he added.

Malicol said Dante Sandigan Kadatuan, Guli Utba Mangandong, Sindatuk Ampatua alias Sinda Pendaliday, Saddam Lucan Montani, Aminodin Maliga, and Turagsak Sabal were either facing illegal drug charges, murder, or possession of firearms and explosives. Balitoc was detained on murder charges.

Senior Supt. Rolly Octavio, the city police director, said all police stations across the city had been alerted and road blocks established.

The military-led Task Force Kutawato was also helping in the manhunt for the fugitives.

Maguindanao Gov. Ismael Mangudadatu offered a P250,000 as reward for those who could provide information leading to the recapture of all six inmates.