Staff writer:
Following their escape on Monday morning from the jail facility of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office (PDEA RO) 9 in Zamboanga City, authorities began a manhunt for the seven persons deprived of liberty (PDLs). The escapees were identified by the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) as Wilson Indanan Sahiban, Jimmy Angeles Sahibol, Junjimar Hajili Aiyob, Kerwin Mohammad Abdilla, Albadir Mala Ajijul, Muhajiran Romeo Jumlah, and Amil Khan Mahadali Abubasar.
According to an initial report, the jailbreak was discovered at approximately 2:45 a.m. by a prison guard, who then notified the duty officer about the incident. Only one PDL was found inside the facility by PDEA officials after an inspection. An initial investigation revealed that the suspects had made a tiny hole in the ceiling of the jail, which they used to get away.
Tracker teams have been established by the ZCPO and PDEA RO 9 to find and apprehend the fugitives. During the buy-bust on May 3 in the city’s Barangay Mampang, which produced 21.4 kg of shabu with an estimated street value of PHP145.5 million, the seven suspects were taken into custody. The PDEA declared the operation to be the largest drug bust in Zamboanga Peninsula history.