Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will investigate why 10 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at Batangas Provincial Jail escaped amid claims of abuse by jail guards. CHR spokesperson Commissioner Atty. Beda Epres said a team from the Region IV-A office has been deployed to inspect the jail facility.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/7/29/batangas-jailbreak-all-10-escapees-recaptured-1241">Batangas jailbreak: All 10 escapees re-arrested</a></div>CHR personnel will also interview the PDLs to verify claims that some inmates were being beaten by jail guards, or by fellow inmates upon orders of prison officers.“Ito po ay pinapatingnan namin at naghihintay lang po kami ng report from our Region IV-A office,” Epres said.Epres said the CHR’s investigation will be fair.“Para makita talaga natin ang kumpletong istorya,sino po ba talaga ang nagsasabi ng totoo dito? Para patas po ang maging pananaw po ng lahat ng sangay ng gobyerno na mag-iimbestiga po dito. Nagdispatched na po kami ng taga-Region IV-A office namin,” he added.PDLs identified as alias Michael and alias Armando earlier <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/7/28/passenger-bus-taken-hostage-in-batangas-police-1430">claimed</a> they escaped because they could no longer take the beatings inside the provincial jail.“Pinagbubugbog na po kami doon. Ewan ko po sa kanila, gawa ng nagkapalitan po ng nanunungkulan doon,” said alias Michael.“Hinihiling po naming sana hindi na kami mapanbalik doon kasi delikado na po, sana kahit sa Tanauan na lang po kami makulong,” said alias Armando.Similar claims were made by alias Gerald, who was re-arrested in Barangay Manghina Proper, Bauan, Batangas.“Sobrang minamaltrato po kami,” said alias Gerald before police stopped him from speaking further to the media.The jailbreak occurred Monday morning when the PDLs overpowered a jail guard, seizing his firearm and threatening him with a knife.<div>JAIL OFFICIALS DENY ABUSE ALLEGATIONS</div>Meanwhile, themanagement of the Batangas Provincial Jail has strongly denied claims by several persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) that they escaped due to abuse allegedly committed by jail guards.“Walang nananakit at hindi namin ginagawa yan, wala kaming policy na ganyan,” said Retired Colonel David Quimio, the provincial jail supervisor, in a phone interview with ABS-CBN News.Quimio explained that the PDLs were simply resisting the reforms he implemented to improve the jail facility and put an end to illegal activities inside the jail.“Sila yun nagcocontrol ng hidden economy sa loob, sila  yung nagbebenta ng sigarilyo kahit bawal doon. Saan ka nakakita na P2,000 ang isang kaha ng sigarilyo? Magkano ang isang kwatro kantos na gin, aba P5,000,” Quimio said.He added that since he was appointed by Governor Vilma Santos-Recto to lead the provincial jail, the escaped PDLs could no longer exert the power they once held inside, which had even intimidated the jail guards.“Pati mga guwardiya nademoralize na dahil existing na privilege sa inmate o persons deprived of  liberty na naghahari-hari sa loob kasi tinotolerate ng mga namumuno, doon sa previous administration, binabaligtad,” Quimio added.Quimio believes the jailbreak was carefully planned.On Monday morning, the 10 inmates escaped after seizing a firearm, pointing it at jail guards, and locking them inside a cell.All ten escapees were rearrested within 24 hours, including five who boarded a passenger bus bound for Manila but were intercepted at the STAR Tollway in Sto. Tomas City.The provincial jail is under the supervision of the provincial government of Batangas.<div>RELATED VIDEO: </div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kucFmAGYSJI?si=GYTw-nUM5JldB_Mg" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </div>

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will investigate why 10 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at Batangas Provincial Jail escaped amid claims of abuse by jail guards.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will investigate why 10 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at Batangas Provincial Jail escaped amid claims of abuse by jail guards.

CHR investigates Batangas jailbreak amid allegations of abuse

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CHR investigates Batangas jailbreak amid allegations of abuse

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 29, 2025 08:06 PM PHT

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Updated July 30, 2025 12:17 AM PHT

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BATANGAS PROVINCIAL JAIL

JAILBREAK

PDLS

CHR

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