BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Another jail escapee died yesterday in Hacienda Ambulong, Brgy. San Fernando, Talisay City, as lawmen pressed their manhunt operations against the five inmates, who escaped from the Negros Occidental Provincial Jail in Bago City, on June 29.
P/Maj. Jigger Gimeno, Talisay City police chief, identified the fatality as Danilo Celeste, elder brother of Marvin, who was also killed on June 30 in Hacienda Velez, Brgy. Blumentritt, Murcia, Negros Occidental. Danilo Tamon was recaptured in that manhunt operation.
The Celeste brothers, Tamon, Alejandro Montoya, and Francisco Epogon, leader of the Epogon organized crime group, have been considered high-profile inmates by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology that even offered P10,000 for the recapture of each escapee.
Danilo was facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition, attempted homicide, carnapping and robbery, while Marvin also faced gun charges. Both were residents of Sitio Timawa, Brgy. Gawahon in Victorias City.
Gimeno said they got reports Thursday night on the presence of the fleeing inmates in the area, that prompted them to conduct a joint operation with the 1st Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company and the BJMP.
He claimed that the escapees opened fire at the pursuing lawmen when they were told to surrender and this prompted authorities to return fire, fatally hitting Danilo.
Epogon and Montoya were able to evade arrest, although one of them was also injured, Gimeno said.*
