Negros Occidental jail escapee shot dead, another captured

One of the five high-risk prisoners who broke out of Negros Occidental District Jail in Bago City was killed after their group was tracked down by authorities in Hacienda Velez, Murcia town on Wednesday, June 30. The prisoners had escaped the day prior, on Tuesday, June 29.

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.

Jairus Anthony Dogelio, spokesperson of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Region 6 (BJMP-6), said they received an intelligence report that the five suspects were sighted in the area. When the tracking team was closing in on them, 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 was charged with 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,” adding that they could have 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 fled the jail by cutting the grills of their cell window with a makeshift saw, then tying their clothes and different pieces of cloth together to climb over the 20-foot prison wall.

The BJMP-6 has offered a P10,000 reward to anyone who can give information that would lead to the capture of each inmate. – Rappler.com