Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the escape of three persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from the National Bilibid Prison on Muntinlupa City at about 1 a.m. today, Jan. 17.
Also ordered investigated was the Jan. 2 NBP riot which resulted in the deaths of three PDLs and injuries to 14 others.
Guevarra said: “I will also recommend to the Office of the President that disciplinary action be taken against BuCor (Bureau of Corrections) officials who may be found guilty of gross neglect of duty.”
In its announcement, BuCor said the three PDLs who escaped are “considered armed and dangerous.” They shot and wounded at least three corrections officers and a fellow PDL.
In the Jan. 2 riot, those who died succumbed to wounds from bullets fired from improvised firearms.
In both instances, BuCor did not disclose how and where did the PDLs obtained the firearms.
The NBI escapees were identified as Arwin Villeza Bio, 35, who hails from Javier Leyte and was convicted of murder and attempted murder; Drakilou Yosores Falcon, 34, who hails from Libasqua, San Miguel, Surigao Del Sur and has been convicted of robbery with homicide; and Pacific Villaruz Adlawan, 49, who is from San Agustin, Tandag City, Surigao Del Sur and has been convicted of frustrated homicide and use of dangerous drugs.
BuCor warned on the escape of the three PDLs and urged the public to report if they are sighted to hotline numbers 09178049362 and 09186001081 or to the nearest police station.
The Muntinlupa City police’s initial report stated that three escapees “jumped from the walk path and immediately fired upon the duty guards at Gate 4 (near the tower) and proceeded to Gate 3 where they again fired at the duty guard.”
The escapees “exited at Sitio Magdaong at the NBP Reservation Area,” the report stated.
The guards “who sustained gunshot wounds” are Correction Officer (CO) 1 Angelto Marquez, 57 years old; CO1 Mark Joseph Dela Cruz, 29; CO1 Jancy Dagamas, 26; and PDL Michael V. Dullanvin, 46.
The wounded guards and the PDL were brought to the Ospital ng Muntinlupa for treatment, the report said.