Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday said the COVID-19 protocol to wear face masks makes it hard for authorities to identify and capture the two deprived of liberty (PDLs) who escaped from the New Bilibid Prison last January 17.
“No, they have not been found and re-arrested. Yes, it is difficult to find them because everyone is wearing a mask. But our law enforcement agents, with the help of ordinary citizens, will find them. it’s just a question of attrition,” Guevarra said, in a text message.
Guevarra made the statement after two weeks since Drakilou Falcon and Chris Ablas escaped from the penal facility, but they remain at-large and still subjects of manhunt operations.
The Justice Secretary admitted that the requirement for persons to don face masks when going out of their homes might make it hard for government enforcers to recognize and apprehend them.
“Each day that passes makes the task of recapturing these escapees more difficult. But the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) tracking team is relentlessly hunting them,” he said.
Falcon, who reportedly sustained a foot injury during an encounter with the authorities, was convicted of robbery with homicide and illegal possession of firearms. He also has pending cases for double murder, frustrated murder, attempted murder, and robbery. While Ablas was convicted for robbery with homicide.
The two were both sentenced to reclusion perpetua.
The BuCor has already coordinated with other law enforcement agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and with some local government units (LGUs) to aid them in their search for the two fugitives.
The BuCor had offered a P100,000 reward in exchange for information that would lead to the successful re-arrest of the fugitives.
“I am also calling on these escapees to voluntarily turn themselves in at the nearest police station, because the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them, wherever they hide,” Guevarra said.
Two other PDLs who also escaped last Jan. 17, Pacifico Adlawan and Arwin Bio, were earlier killed in a manhunt operation.
