Some of the 158 detainees who escaped from the North Cotabato Provincial Jail have possibly fled towards Bohol, said a Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) official.

According to BPPO spokesman Senior Insp. Vincent Dumaguing, it is possible that some of the inmates who escaped when armed men stormed the detention facility on January 3 have relatives in Bohol.

However, the BPPO has yet to receive information from the North Cotabato police indicating that there were Boholanos who escaped during the prison raid.

Dumaguing said that they will immediately distribute information and photos of the jail escapees to municipal police stations once these are sent to the BPPO.

At midnight on January 3, armed men stormed the North Cotabato detention facility and engaged prison guards in a firefight freeing 158 detainees, 94 of whom are facing drug charges.

Some of the escapees have already been arrested while others are still on the run including bombing and murder suspect Esmael “Derby” Nasser, who is considered to be one of the most dangerous among the the men who escaped.

Authorities also identified other dangerous personalities among escapees as Sam Manial Hassan, Nonoke Cuta Luay, Jonathan Dumalaba Pangawilan and Ali Kuyag Sultan, all facing charges of possession of explosives; Gardo Sampolna Usop, accused of murder and multiple attempted murder; and Jomar Pulindao Utala, accused of illegal possession of ammunition.

On Tuesday, the provincial government of North Cotabato offered up to P1 million for the arrest of each “high-risk” inmate. (Rey Tutas)