2 QC jail escapees arrested in Aurora

RECAPTURED. The two inmates–Dennis Valdez and Mamerto Vanzuela, who escaped from Quezon City Jail, were arrested in Baler, Aurora on Saturday (August 10). The two fugitives, who are both members of the Sigue-sigue Sputnik gang, managed to escape at the Quezon City jail during the Metro Manila-wide earthquake drill last July 27, this year. (Photo by Jason de Asis via PNA)

BALER, Aurora-Two inmates, who escaped from Quezon City Jail, were nabbed here on Saturday.

Police Capt. Ferdinand Beatriz Usita, chief of police of Baler, said a manhunt operation by the personnel of the Baler Police Station, Provincial Intelligence Branch and the Bureau of Jail and Management Penology (BJMP) led to the arrest of Dennis Valdez and Mamerto Vanzuela, who are both members of the Sigue-sigue Sputnik gang.

Valdez is a leader of a car theft syndicate and sentenced by a court from 17 to 30 years of imprisonment; eight to 10 years for the crime of robbery in band; eight to 10 years for illegal possession of firearm, violation of Republic act 9165 with a pending case of kidnap for ransom in the cities of Manila and Marikina.

Vanzuela, on the other hand, was convicted for raping a 13-year old girl.

Usita said that the recaptured inmates managed to escape from the Quezon City Jail while the Metro Manila-wide earthquake drill was being conducted last July 27.

“They took the money and cellular phones of their fellow inmates after the metro-wide earthquake drill at around 4:40 a.m. last July 27,” he said.

Usita added that the two fugitives were turned over to the BJMP-National Capital Region and to the Quezon City Jail.