3 killed, 8 wounded in Zamboanga del Norte jailbreak

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - At least three people, including two inmates and a jail guard were killed while eight others were wounded in a jailbreak incident Friday night in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, officials said.

Police said the prison break occurred in the jail facility of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Barangay Poblacion, downtown of Siocon just beside its municipal capitol about 7:55 p.m. when six of the inmates managed to grab and disarmed the jail guard of his firearms.

Chief Supt. Edgar Basbas, Police Regional Office 9 director, said a shootout ensued among the BJMP personnel and police forces from the adjacent police station and the inmates breaking from their cells. 

Killed in the shootout were Jail Officer 1 (JO1) Ryanbel Bagun while the two slain inmates were Ruel Humoc and Preciouso Humoc, both faced murder case.

Those wounded were Police 0fficer 3 Romel Jay Hachuela and P01 Paul Tomboc, both of the Siocon Municipal Police Station, Jail Officer 2 Roldan Felizarta; Jail 0fficer 1 Patric Galvez, of the Siocon Municipal Jail, while the 4 inmates were Reneboy Humoc;  Lito Magsayo; Ryllmark Canonio; and Zenaid Insu.

The inmates involved in the failed jail break are serving time for murder and robbery cases, among others. 

“The inmates involved hatched the jailbreak by grabbing the firearms of the jail guard and engaged the personnel in shootout,” Basbas told newsmen. 

Police investigation disclosed that Bagun was escorting his trusted inmate back to the cell. However, one of the inmates grabbed the firearm tucked in Bagun's waist and shot him dead. 

Basbas said two of the inmates and a jail guard were killed while eight others were wounded in the firefight. 

Military troops and combat police from the Provincial Public Safety Company responded and prevented other inmates from escaping as their were recaptured in the pursuit operation, according to Basbas. 

He said the wounded police and BJMP personnel and the four inmates were brought to the nearby hospital for treatment under close security.

Basbas said the BJMP is investigating what triggered the prison break and the possible lapses.