There were 600 prisoners who escaped a provincial jail in the Philippines while Typhoon Haiyan was lashing the Philippines on Nov 8. Flash floods had filled the cells, ripped off the roof and threatened the lives of these prisoners that they were left with no choice but to flee prison, swimming out for their lives.

However, in a very admirable turn of events, these prisoners came back, willingly, to jail after Typhoon Haiyan.

Most of the prisoners took their momentary escape as an opportunity to check if their families were safe. Some tended to their families before going back to prison.

In an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP), escaped prisoners shared why they came back to jail instead of permanently fleeing.

"I just wanted to make sure that my family was safe. After that, I returned on my own because I don't want to live the life of a fugitive. My family is OK, there are no casualties but my house is totally destroyed. I returned because I want my freedom to be legal," Renato Comora, 47, told FP.

Another prisoner, Oldarico Raquel, 36, on trial for attempted murder, said that he was not afraid to die inside his cell when the flash flood happens. But, he opted to escape because he wanted to check on his family. He found out that their family home was destroyed. He built a makeshift house for his family and relatives before he voluntarily went back to prison.

Damilo Tejones, on trial for rape, told the same story.

"After escaping, I helped my family harvest rice for three days before I returned. I could have stayed away but I decided to come back because I am innocent of the charge. I want my case to be finished so that I can get free legally," Mr Tejones said.

"Our house has been blown away. So I helped my mother put up a temporary shelter, then I returned," said Jessie Abalos, on trial for illegal drugs.

According to local jail officers, the prisoners were voluntarily returning directly to jail or they voluntarily surrender to a prison van roaming around town looking for the escaped prisoners.