ORMOC CITY- Two prison guards from Leyte sub-provincial jail were killed in an ambush along the highway of Barangay Tagbubunga in Villaba town while escorting five detainees from a court hearing in the said town on April 16.
Police Capt. Ricky Rubillos, Villaba town police chief identified the slain guards as Leo Gonzales, 54 and Genesis Piamonte, 57.
Also killed was a certain JR, the driver of the tricycle the guards hired to transport them together with the inmates.
Patrolman Glenn Ian Belongilot, investigator- on- case, said the vehicle carrying the escort guards and the inmates were on their way back to the jail in nearby Palompon town when the perpetrators chanced and fired at the victims.
One of the inmates Rommel Tahanlangit, 36, said, he noticed a single motorcycle with one back rider appeared at their left side and started firing at them instantly hitting the guards back riding the driver.
Before the driver was hit, the vehicle first slowed down and swerved.
The suspects on paired handcuff only sustained bruises when they escaped by jumping at the high terrain. They returned and surrendered to the responding police few minutes later.
The inmates said that the two suspects were in clad of a mask and a helmet.
The inmates, who are charged with homicide, attempted homicide and attempted murder, are identified as Jeremy Davocol, 36;Ramonito Tahanlangit, 26;Rommel Pagatpat, 22;Renan Dawaton, 26;and Rommel Tahanlangit, 36.
Palompon Sub-Provincial Jail warden Prison Guard 1 Gilbert Cayubit claimed the jail’s service car was damaged during the onslaught of super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ has not been replaced.
Since then, they have been using public transport as their means when they are transporting their inmates attending for court hearings.
“This is the first time to happen and I am very sad. I lost two good men who became my very good friends at work”, the warden sadly expressed.
He also said that it is high time to really pursue in requesting service unit and ask for additional personnel.
Police has yet to determine the motive of the crime as their probe is still ongoing.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
