Escaped prisoners remain at large after Philippines storm

2013-11-19 30

Tacloban City Jail in the Philippines seems quiet, now.

But when the storm surge of Typhoon Haiyan smashed open the prison's main gate, well over a hundred inmates swam to freedom.

Most remain on the loose, but a few -- like Joey Gerona Taborada -- serving eight years for drug dealing, chose to come back.

(SOUNDBITE) (Waray) PRISONER SERVING EIGHT-YEAR SENTENCE FOR DRUG DEALING, JOEY GERONA TABORADA, SAYING:

"I was afraid of what was happening to my family. That's why I decided to get out of the prison. I was always thinking of returning to the prison. I'd been serving this detention sentence for so long, it would have been a waste if I didn't return."

Prisoners on the loose just add to the sense of unease among residents here, in the wake of the devastating storm.

The inmates are convicted of crimes like robbery and drug dealing -- but more violent offenses, too, like rape and murder.

Jail Warden Joseph Nunex says prisoners who willingly come