BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
An escapee was reported yesterday to have been killed, while another was recaptured in Hacienda Velez, Brgy. Blumentritt, Murcia, as Bureau of Jail Management and Penology personnel, assisted by the police, intensified their manhunt operations on the five inmates, who bolted from the Negros Occidental District Jail in Bago City on June 29.
The identity of the slain escapee has been withheld, pending confirmation from authorities, while the recaptured inmate was identified by BJMP regional spokesman Jairus Anthony Dogelio as Daniel Tamon, a resident of Salvador Benedicto town, who is facing murder charges.
P/Capt. Gerald Moya, Murcia police chief, said yesterday that the presence of unidentified persons was reported to authorities by residents, who complained that these persons stole some of their personal belongings.
The BJMP offered a P10,000 reward for each of the five high-profile inmates. The BJMP added that, in case anyone has information on them, they should contact the nearest police station, jail unit, or text/call 09676509468 or 09778037959.
Francisco Epogon, one of the five escapees, is the leader of an organized crime group in Negros Occidental, the police said. He is facing charges for robbery with violations of intimidation of person, and robbery with homicide.
The four other escapees were identified as brothers Marvin and Danilo Celeste, Alejandro Montoya, and Tamon.
The jailbreak led to the relief of Jail Supt. Pricel Arevalo as NODJ warden. He was replaced by Jail Chief Inspector Abner Zamora.*
