Batangas: Eight out of ten Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) who escaped from the Batangas Provincial Jail in Ibaan town were recaptured by the Batangas Provincial Police Office (BPPO) on Monday morning. The coordinated operation highlighted the effective use of drone technology, as per a statement from the police.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 4A (Calabarzon) reported that authorities were alerted at around 10 a.m. about the escape of 10 PDLs. The incident occurred while the inmates were being escorted to a public utility room. One of the prisoners threatened a jail guard with an ice pick, seized his service firearm, and fled along with others toward Brgy. Quilo, Ibaan, Batangas.

Lt. Col. Aleli Buaquen, spokesperson for the Batangas Provincial Police Office, stated that three PDLs were apprehended in Barangay Quilo, Ibaan town, within half an hour, specifically by 10:20 a.m. The BPPO employed advanced technology, including drones, to conduct a comprehensive manhunt, which provided real-time aerial surveillance and significantly expedited the search and capture efforts.

Later in the day, five other inmates were intercepted aboard a bus on the northbound lane of the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (Star Tollway), near the boundary of Tanauan and Santo Tomas cities, at approximately 1:30 p.m. This was achieved through a checkpoint operation, as noted by Buaquen.

The Batangas PPO reported that strategic negotiation and a firm police presence enabled personnel to persuade the escapees to surrender peacefully, ensuring the safety of other passengers and avoiding any untoward incidents. The apprehended inmates were found in possession of a caliber 9mm pistol, 16 live rounds of caliber 9mm ammunition, two magazines for caliber 9mm, a balisong or a bladed weapon, and P59,673 in cash.

Efforts are ongoing to capture the remaining two escaped inmates, according to Buaquen.