3 who bolted Masbate jail recaptured in Madridejos

CEBU, Philippines - Three of the four inmates who recently bolted a Masbate jail were arrested in Madridejos town Tuesday night.

Rape suspect Romel Padailap, murder suspect Jessie Cabier, and frustrated murder suspect Romeo Olasla – all inmates of Palanas District Jail in Palanas, Masbate – were arrested by barangay tanods after they landed in Barangay Maalat around 8 p.m. using a pump boat.

Also arrested was Arge Lectiones, a nephew of Padailap. Lectiones was with the escapees when they were accosted by the tanods.

According to Senior Inspector Jaime Santillan, when the escapees arrived, they looked for the barangay captain.

While at the house of Barangay Captain Perla Bacayo, the four asked about a certain person. But Bacayo became suspicious about the identities of the four, prompting her to call up Senior Inspector Santillan.

The suspects said they were looking for a relative to inform about the cow that he asked them to take care of.

But police found out that the three were inmates who bolted the Palanas, Masbate jail.

Upon police questioning, Padailap, Cabier and Olasla admitted that they bolted the Masbate jail.

That jailbreak, which occurred around 6 p.m. last July 5, also resulted in the deaths of two jail guards and an inmate.

The fatalities were identified as Senior Jail Officer 1 Rene Danao, Jail officer Julius Cervantes and inmate Romulo Pason.

According to the police, Cervantes was accompanying Padailap in delivering food to other prisoners when the jail guard was attacked by the inmates. He was hit by a solid object in the head.

Padailap, Cabier and Olasla Jr., and another inmate named Felipe Alargo escaped from their detention cells and attacked Danao and Pason.

The suspects are now detained at Madridejos Police Station. (FREEMAN)