One of the five high-risk prisoners who broke out of the Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) in Bago City was killed after they were tracked down by pursuing law enforcers in Hacienda Velez in Barangay Blumentritt, Murcia, Wednesday morning, June 30.
This came a day after they escaped from the NODJ.
Killed was Marvin Celeste of Victorias City, who was charged with illegal possession of firearms, while Daniel Tamon of Salvador Benedicto town, who is facing murder charges, was arrested by the tracking team.
Lawyer Jairus Anthony Dogelio, spokesperson of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-6, said they received an intelligence report that the five suspects were sighted in the area.
When the tracking team was closing in, a firefight ensued, causing the death of Celeste while the others scampered in different directions, Dogelio said.
Still at large are Francisco Epogon of Cauayan town, who is said to be part of the notorious Epogon robbery group and is facing charges for robbery with homicide and robbery with violation against intimidation of person;
Danilo Celeste of Victorias City who is facing carnapping, robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and attempted homicide charges; and Alejandro Montoya of Victorias City who has cases for carnapping, robbery, illegal possession of firearms, attempted homicide, and acts of lasciviousness.
The two Celestes were brothers, Dogelio confirmed.
He said the suspects are considered “armed and dangerous,” and could have probably gotten help from the Epogon robbery group.
Dogelio called on the escapees to surrender to the authorities because the tracking team will not stop pursuing them.
On June 29, the inmates escaped after cutting the grills of their cell window with a makeshift saw, and tying their clothes and different pieces of cloth together to climb over the 20-foot wall.
The BJMP-6 has offered a P10,000 reward to anyone who can give information that would lead to the capture of each of the escapees.*