This is the shocking moment 15 inmates who tested positive for Covid-19 broke out of jail.

CCTV footage shows the men running outside Caloocan Custodial Facility in Caloocan City, the Philippines on October 21 afternoon.

The prisoners allegedly drilled a 2ft-wide hole in the facility’s wall using sharp tools they smuggled inside during lunch breaks.

The massive prison break was reported to have been organised by inmate Arnel Ducat who was convicted for illegal possession of firearms. The other involved inmates were convicted for illegal drugs, violation of curfew, and disobedience to persons in authority.

Two police officers pursued the inmates and captured two of them even before they could leave the compound.

In a separate manhunt operation, the police caught six more escaped inmates hiding in their houses. Seven others are still at large.

One of the two recaptured inmates said Arnel gathered people and had a meeting on October 18 where he laid out the plan to them. The group shared the same jail cell because they were being isolated after testing positive for the coronavirus.

He said: “We waited for the perfect timing. We made noise by singing to distract the police so they won’t hear us hammering through the wall.”

The inmates ran into different directions while some hailed taxis and jeepneys along the way.

Caloocan Police Chief Dario Menor said the two police officers assigned to guard them that time will also be investigated.

He said: “We will question them as well and see if they are guilty of neglect and other charges.

The police are still looking for the escaped inmates while investigations are ongoing.