P50-K reward up for capture of 5 ‘high risk’ escapees

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-6 offered a P10,000 cash reward each for the arrest of five persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who escaped from the Negros Occidental District Jail in Bago City yesterday.

Marvin Celeste, Alejandro Montoya, and Danilo Celeste, all residents of Victorias City; Daniel Tamon of Don Salvador Benedicto town; and Francisco Epogon of Cauayan town, bolted from their detention cell around 1:20 a.m. by cutting the jail’s steel bar and using their clothes to scale down the wall.

“Siguro may technique sila nga indi gahod ang pag-lagare nila sa steel,” according to Atty. Jairus Anthony Dogelio, BJMP-6 spokesperson.

Dogelio said the jail’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera did not capture the escape because their exit point was a blind spot.

Dogelio said that these PDLs were considered high-risk because of their cases.

Marvin was charged for illegal possession of firearms, while Montoya is facing charges for carnapping, robbery, illegal possession of firearms, attempted homicide, and acts of lasciviousness.

Danilo was charged for carnapping, robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and attempted homicide; while Tamon is facing charges for murder.

Epogon, who was reportedly linked to the notorious Epogon robbery group in the province, has cases for robbery with violation against intimidation of person, and robbery with homicide.

The BJMP has already coordinated with other law enforcement agencies to capture these escapees.

Following this, Dogelio confirmed that Superintendent Prizel Arevalo, NODJ warden was relieved from his post effective June 29, 2021 as part of the procedure.

“Ma consider na ini abi na mass escape, basta more than 3,” he added.

Arevalo was replaced by Chief Inspector Abner Zamora, who was just recently assigned to NODJ after graduating from an officership course.

Dogelio also said the jail guards who were on duty at that time will be subjected to investigation to determine if there were lapses on their part.

As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, the five escapees have yet to be recaptured.