Panama Parents Escort Children to School Amid Fear of Fugitives from La Joyita Prison

Fear has gripped eastern Panama as parents are now personally accompanying their children to school, foregoing public and school transport. This heightened anxiety stems from the mass escape of at least 21 inmates from the La Joyita prison complex, who remain at large more than a week after the incident. Communities adjacent to the La Joya penitentiary, including Las Garzas, Pacora, and surrounding areas, are experiencing palpable tension.

Parents expressed their deep concern to TVN Noticias outside an educational center in Las Garzas. One mother from Tanara, in Chepo, shared her decision to escort her 14-year-old son, who usually travels alone. "I'm scared. He's 14 years old and travels alone on public transport. I'm coming to pick him up again," she stated, highlighting the personal risk many feel.

Despite a relatively calm surface in some communities, a strong police presence and a latent sense of unease persist. Many parents speaking to reporters did so cautiously, avoiding identification, underscoring the prevailing atmosphere of apprehension. This situation is particularly acute in areas bordering the La Joya complex, where law enforcement maintains an active presence.

In response to the ongoing search for the fugitives, authorities have reinforced security measures at schools. Multiple police patrols have been observed around the Las Garzas school, a scene reportedly replicated in other communities in the sector. This increased security aims to reassure residents and deter any potential threats while the manhunt for the escaped prisoners continues.

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I'm scared. He's 14 years old and travels alone on public transport. I'm coming to pick him up again.