Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Inmates

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17537109518461753710949829.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Eight of the 10 persons deprived of liberty who escaped from the Batangas jail have been arrested. ABS-CBN News"/>Eight of the 10 persons deprived of liberty who escaped from the Batangas jail have been arrested. ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA (UPDATED) -- The alleged inhumane treatment inside the  Batangas Provincial Jail in Barangay Malainin in Ibaan town, reportedly pushed several persons deprived of liberty (PDLs)   to escape on Monday morning.Eight of the ten PDLs who escaped are now in the custody of authorities after being arrested through hot pursuit operations.The first three were arrested after they were tracked by police using drones in a nearby forest close to the provincial jail.However, the pursuit for the five others became more complex when they boarded an Alps passenger bus bound for Cubao from the town of San Juan.Authorities later discovered that the five escapees were on a bus full of passengers, prompting the bus inspector to alert the driver, Angelito Alcantara.The five reportedly boarded the bus at the Ibaan exit of the STAR Tollway.By the time the driver received the alert, the bus had reached the portion of the tollway in Sto. Tomas City.Despite his fear, Alcantara slowly pulled over the bus in front of the expressway’s comfort room, where police were already waiting.“Pinababa ho ako ng pulis sabi patayin ko raw ang makina,“ Alcantara said.“Nerbyos na nerbyos ho ako baka ito ay manghostage baka ako ay tutukan” he added.Police immediately surrounded the bus and initiated negotiations for the five escapees to surrender.However, the five initially refused and instead demanded the presence of media.It took more than 20 minutes before they were convinced to surrender.<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D_wvoJFFrlE?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe>“Initially nagdemand sila ng media para daw safe sila, tumawag kami ng media but nakumbinsi naman natin na peacefully magsurrender sila,” said PLtCol. Marlon Cabataña, chief of Sto. Tomas City Police.</div>“Kinausap ko yung tumayong leader, gusto lang nila makausap yung pamilya, hindi naman daw sila lalaban,” Cabataña added.Cabataña clarified that no hostage-taking occurred, contrary to earlier reports.“Wala po hostage taking na nangyari, naconvinced po natin sila na magsurrender peacefully,” the police chief emphasized.No passengers, including the driver and conductor, were harmed.Police recovered a cal. 9mm pistol, ammunition, a balisong (butterfly knife), and ₱59,000 in cash.Two of the PDLs claimed they were being physically abused by jail guards.They pleaded not to be returned to the Batangas Provincial Jail.“Pinagbubugbog na po kami doon, ewan ko po sa kanila, gawa ng nagkapalitan po ng nanunungkulan doon,” said alias “Michael”.“Hinihiling po namin sana hindi na kami mapabalik doon kasi delikado na po,sana kahit sa Tanauan na lang po kami makulong,“  added alias “Armando”.Governor Vilma Santos-Recto has ordered a thorough investigation into the escape incident.The Batangas Provincial Jail is under the supervision of the provincial government.“Ayon kay Provincial Administrator, Atty. Joel Montealto, pinatututukan ng gobernador ang pagpapasiyasat sa naganap na insidente sa bagong provincial jail, kung saan inilipat ang 792 na mga lalaking Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) nito lamang June 24, 2025, mula sa kasalukuyang pasilidad sa Lungsod ng Batangas, kahit hindi pa maayos ang lahat ng mga security protocols dito,” according to the statement released by the Batangas Public Information Office.Initial investigation revealed the incident occurred around 9:30 AM.The lone jail guard was reportedly preparing the PDLs for a meal when one of them grabbed his firearm and threatened him with a bladed weapon.They allegedly took the cell key and locked the guard inside the cell.“Tinaymingan lang na mag-isa yung knilang bantay at noong ioopen yung gate  para doon sana sila dahil sa public utility room ay sinungaban siya, inagawan ng baril, tinutukan ng balisong at inagaw yung susi at ipinasok itong provincial guard doon sa loob ng selda,” said PLtCol. Aleli Buaquen, spokesperson for Batangas PNP.Manhunt operations are still ongoing for the two remaining escapees.The escaped PDLs are facing charges of murder, robbery, homicide, and illegal drugs.<script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABdE2jU-WxybUK9G"></script><div> </div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kucFmAGYSJI??si=DimzBi7UaMPgYt0y&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

A bus with passengers on board was taken hostage Monday at the Tanauan City-Sto Tomas City boundary of Star Tollway, allegedly by 5 jail breakers who later surrendered to authorities.

A bus with passengers on board was taken hostage Monday at the Tanauan City-Sto Tomas City boundary of Star Tollway, allegedly by 5 jail breakers who later surrendered to authorities.

PDLs re-arrested after escaping Batangas provincial jail

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PDLs re-arrested after escaping Batangas provincial jail

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 28, 2025 02:30 PM PHT

|

Updated Jul 29, 2025 12:43 AM PHT

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