BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The leader of the Epogon robbery group, who was among the five escapees from the Negros Occidental District Jail in Bago City, was recaptured by the police and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology personnel in Sitio Nabilog, Brgy. Amontay, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, yesterday.
The recapture of Francisco Epogon, 31, brought to four the number of NODJ escapees accounted for, with only Alejandro Montoya still at-large.
P/Capt. Ellende Rebusquillo, Binalbagan police chief, said that Epogon tried to escape but was eventually cornered after law enforcers surrounded the house where he was hiding.
Epogon, Montoya, brothers Marvin and Danilo Celeste, and Daniel Tamon escaped from the NODJ facility in Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City, Negros Occidental on June 29.
KILLED, RECAPTURED
The Celeste brothers died during pursuit operations, while Tamon was recaptured in Murcia.
Epogon faces charges for robbery with violation of intimidation of a person, and robbery with homicide.
Montoya is facing charges for carnapping, robbery, illegal possession of firearms, attempted homicide, and acts of lasciviousness.
The BJMP earlier offered a P10,000 bounty for the arrest of the five NODJ escapees. The joint PNP and BJMP operations were also participated in by intelligence operatives of the Police Regional Office 6 and the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, Isabela Police Station, Regional Special Operations Group, and the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company.*
