8 inmates on the loose

An islandwide manhunt was ordered yesterday by the Department of Public Safety for eight convicts, including three murderers, a rapist and a child molester, who bolted out of prison Monday night.

It has been the third jailbreak under the command of Commissioner Charles Ingram.

The convicts were Luis Camacho, Joseph Bowei, William Sablan, Edwin Blas, Vicente Aldan Jr., Ryan Babauta, Arcel Busto and Jeffrey Celis.

Camacho was convicted for the sexual abuse of three children; Bowei for first-degree murder; Sablan for several counts of assault, battery and robbery; Blas for attempted rape; Aldan for second-degree murder; Babauta for involuntary manslaughter; Busto for second-degree murder; and Celis for robbery, burglary and theft.

Police had warned the public to take measures for the safety of their families.

DPS spokesperson Rose Ada said the prison guards discovered that three inmates were missing during a headcount past 9 p.m. An alarm was raised, which led the guards to order a security lockdown.

When the second headcount was conducted, eight inmates were found missing.

Initial investigation showed that the inmates passed through the backside section of the facility where a cut of about four inches wide was discovered in the primary fence. A portion of the second fence was raised from the ground.

According to Ada, the DPS gathered its “elite officers” and began the search. “We are searching everywhere and should anyone caught harboring any of these prisoners shall be charged,” she said.

DPS has asked the public to immediately report to the police if they recognized any of the escapees around their neighborhood. They have asked everyone to make sure that all their doors and windows are locked and secured, instructed their children not to talk to or open the door to strangers.

“This is the time when neighbors and family members should look out for each other. Please do not take any chances with any of the escapees,” said DPS.

The jailbreak also marked the second escape of Babauta, who dashed to freedom on April 28, 1998, together with four other inmates. He escaped with Peter Duenas Cabrera Jr., Gerald Cabrera, Jeffrey S. Basa and Sheldon Yano.

Barely a month after the incident, Yano and Cabrera Jr., again escaped on June 1. Yano was immediately arrested.