ESCAPEE. Aljon Cardenas, New People Army (NPA) rebel, arrested by police officers after a failed attack on Victoria, Northern Samar police station. He escaped from the sub-provincial jail in Allen, Northern Samar on Thursday (Oct. 17, 2019). (Photo courtesy of Philippine National Police)
TACLOBAN CITY -- The Philippine National Police in Eastern Visayas (PNP-8) vowed to re-arrest a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) who escaped on Oct. 17 from the sub-provincial jail in Allen, Northern Samar.
PNP Region 8 director Brig. Gen. Dionardo Carlos said it is very disappointing to hear that Aljon Cardenas bolted from a sub-provincial jail after he was captured for attacking the police station of Victoria, Northern Samar early this year.
“We have strengthened our dragnet operation to recapture one of the suspects behind the police station attack. We will do our best to recapture him and we want to put him under our custody once arrested,” Carlos told reporters in a press briefing Friday.
Cardenas, 19, broke out of jail by climbing the six-meter concrete perimeter wall around 8 p.m. on October 17.
He was one of the 50 NPA rebels who attacked the Victoria, Northern Samar municipal police station on March 28, 2019. The three-hour gun battle killed three rebels while four were arrested, including Cardenas.
Only two of the 15 police officers on duty were slightly injured after successfully defending their unit.
Cardenas, a resident of Dawo village in Calbayog City, has been charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. (PNA)
