TACURONG CITY — An escapee from South Cotabato provincial jail was killed in a shootout with authorities while another escapee was recaptured following police operations here Wednesday morning.
Sr. Supt. Raul Supiter, Sultan Kudarat police provincial director, said Andy Evangelista who escaped from the provincial jail died while his companion, identified only as a certain Mando, was recaptured in police follow-up pursuit operations.
Both escapees bolted the South Cotabato provincial jail on January 15.
Supiter said at around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Tacurong City PNP headed by Supt. Jeofil Siason, received a tip from concerned citizen about the plan of two escapees to carnap a motorbike in Barangay La Bodera here.
A team composed of elements from city police, highway patrol group and Joint Task Force “Talakudong” (Tacurong) was dispatched to where the two were sighted onboard a motorbike.
But as the lawmen were approaching, Evangelista pulled his pistol and opened fire on government forces, triggering a brief exchange of bullets.
Supiter said the two managed to escape toward Sitio Baladsikan, Barangay San Pablo, also in this city, leaving a motorbike and blooded sweatshirt, an indication they were injured.
Supiter said the recovered motorbike was recorded as carnapped vehicle in Norala, South Cotabato on January 20.
At past 7 a.m., pursuing lawmen nabbed the injured Mando at Purok Malipayon, Barangay San Emmanuel, Tacurong City. At 8:15 a.m., police also collared Evangelista who was critically injured.
Evangelista was later declared dead on arrival at the Salayog Hospital.
Supiter lauded the tipster who alerted police about the escapees’ whereabouts. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
