Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 4) — All of the 10 detainees who bolted from the Malibay Detention Facility in Pasay City before dawn on Monday have been recaptured, police said.
The Southern Police District (SPD) confirmed that Richard dela Cruz — the only remaining detainee earlier unaccounted for — was rearrested around 5:20 p.m. Tuesday inside a cemetery in Pasay City.
Earlier in the day, authorities also caught suspects Carlo Magno Benavidez and Norman Deyta.
SPD said Benavidez was caught at 7:15 a.m. in Imus, Cavite, while Deyta was found in Barangay 152, Pasay at around 10 a.m.
An SPD photo also showed that Romeo Estopa, who is likewise facing illegal drug charges, has already been apprehended. Estopa was not among those initially identified by authorities as an escapee, although he was included in the photos of the fugitives that the police released.
Among the first six to be rearrested were Joey Hernandez, Eden Garcia, Joshua Panganiban, Tirzo Galit, Christian Salvatierra, and John Michael Cabe.
They are facing various kinds of charges, including involvement in illegal drugs trade, carnapping, and robbery.
According to the SPD, authorities found out at 4:30 a.m. on Monday that the 10 individuals under police custody (PUPCs) managed to break the iron bars of the detention facility at Malibay Police Sub-Station 6.
Initial investigation showed they mauled the duty jailer and took his service firearm, cash, and assorted keys of the facility.
As per procedure, the commander of the police sub-station and the designated jailer were temporarily relieved amid the ongoing probe.
Police Major General Edgar Alan Okubo, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, said on Monday morning that he wanted all 10 fugitives rearrested within two days.
However, Pasay City Mayor Imelda “Emi” Calixto-Rubiano urged law enforcers to do it within 24 hours.
