6 Sorsogon inmates escape

LEGAZPI CITY — A manhunt is ongoing for six inmates who bolted the Sorsogon provincial jail yesterday morning.

Senior Superintendent Joel Regondolla, Sorsogon provincial director, identified the escapees as Noel Daniega, Mike Arena, Richard Baylon, Damiano Alimudin, Christopher Llarena, and Arnel Halum.

Daniega and Llarena are facing murder charges; Arena, car theft; Baylon, rape; and Alimudin, possession of illegal drugs.

Regondola said the six escaped by cutting the iron grills of their detention cell with a steel saw. The escape happened between 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. yesterday, he said.

The provincial jail can accommodate only 200 inmates but it presently houses 300.

There have been 10 jailbreaks in the provincial jail in the past five years.

Sorsogon Gov. Raul Lee suspended the five jail guards who were on duty during the latest jailbreak pending an investigation into the management of provincial jail warden Isauro Pura.

The provincial jail is under the control and management of the provincial government.

Because of poor conditions due to congestion such as poor ventilation, sanitation and lighting, eight inmates have died of various ailments in the provincial jail since March this year, while 10 others are suffering from swelling and edema on their ankles and bodies.