STA. CRUZ, Laguna — The Laguna police immediately launched a province-wide manhunt operation against six prisoners who bolted the Laguna provincial jail in Poblacion 1 in Sta. Cruz here at 10:40 a.m. on Sunday.
Laguna provincial police office director Senior Superintendent Cecilio Ison Jr. has ordered an investigation into the jailbreak involving six inmates who escaped from jail on board a maroon Toyota Revo.
Ison said the inmates grabbed the caliber .38 service revolver of one of the prison guards, Jail Guard Norberto Malabanan, at the main gate and shot him in his face.
Malabanan was rushed to Laguna Medical Center. Two other guards, Alfonso Mariano and Miguel Arceta, were also on duty at the time of the incident.
The prisoners then grabbed an M-16 rifle from another guard and commandeered a Toyota Revo with plate number WGM-193 and sped towards Los Banos where they abandoned it after colliding with another vehicle.
Policemen in the province have been directed to set up checkpoints to track down the escapees.
Police identified the escapees as Rhandel Bucal Vale of Barangay Bulihan in Famy, Laguna for murder case; Rio Amihan Mahilom of Camarin, Caloocan City for violation of Republic Act 8294 (illegal possession of firearms, RA 9516 (illegal possession of explosives) and R.A. 7156; Rayman Caparas Raymundo, of Barangay Dela Paz in Biñan City, Laguna for murder; Teddy Sarte Bucal of Barangay Nanguma in Mabitac, Laguna, also for murder; Romel Esmer Macaraig of Barangay San Diego, San Pablo City for carnapping and illegal possession of explosives; and Verjust Daldi Dizon of Barangay Binan in Pagsanjan, Laguna for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
Police are also trying to establish the owner of the getaway vehicle used by the escapees which they eventually abandoned in Los Baños. (Roselle Aquino/PNA)
