Jail escapees recaptured

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — A day after they escaped from the Iloilo Provincial Integrated Jail (IPIJ) in Brgy. Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo, the two inmates were finally arrested by police operatives at the house of one of the inmate’s live-in partner in West Habog-Habog, Molo district in this city early morning yesterday.

It took almost 30 minutes of negotiation before Jonathan Bedia of Brgy. Rosario, Dumangas and Willie Lopez of Brgy. Liboo, Dingle, all of Iloilo, voluntarily surrendered to the Molo Police with the help of Lopez’s live-in partner.

According to the report, Lopez was charged of theft and robbery and was scheduled to be sent to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila early this year to serve his sentence. Bedia is facing cases of highway robbery and frustrated homicide filed at the Regional Trial Court in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.

Immediately after the capture, the two escapees were returned to the IPIJ for proper disposition of their case.

In a related development, IPIJ officer-in-charge Abner Zamora was immediately relieved yesterday while investigation was still going on.

BJMP-6 investigator Senior Jail Officer 1 Leo Lacerna said every time there is a jailbreak incident, the jail officer-in-charge or warden is automatically relieved from post, as part of its standard operating procedure.

Prior to his relief, Zamora asked the BJMP-6 for an independent investigation on how the inmates escaped and to know if there was involvement of some on-duty jail officers. (FREEMAN)