Inspector Gerard Hernandez, chief of the anti-vice and intelligence unit of Kabacan police, identified the escapee as Larry Antelino of Barangay Tunggol in Datu Montawal, Maguindanao.
Antelino is facing two counts of drug trafficking or violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
Records at the provincial police office showed that Antelino was among the 49 inmates who escaped from the North Cotabato Provincial Jail in Amas village here last February 2, 2007.
He was tagged to be behind last Saturday’s robbery in Poblacion, Kabacan.
Hernandez said Antelino and a companion identified as Simplicio Tomboc, also of Barangay Tunggol, were arrested an hour after they allegedly staged the robbery along Lapu-Lapu Street.
The victims, Bernard Galvez and Joseph Bermudez, both from Poblacion, Kabacan, told police the suspects robbed them of their mobile phones and cash on their way home on board an XRM motorcycle.
The suspects were later cornered along Rojas Street, about a kilometer away from where the incident took place.
Hernandez and his men reportedly recovered from the suspects the items mentioned by the victims and the motorcycle they used as getaway vehicle.
When Hernandez checked on the records of Antelino, he found out that he was among those who escaped from the provincial jail on February 2, 2007.
Antelino was the second escapee arrested by police this month.
On Friday, police led by Supt. Alex Tagum, operations chief of North Cotabato PNP, arrested Noel Pedtamanan.
Pedtamanan is facing multiple murder, multiple attempted murder and frustrated murder in connection with the bombing incidents in Makilala, North Cotabato in 2006 and in Kidapawan City in 2007.
Both escapees are now locked up at the Amas provincial jail, reports said. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)