MANILA - Eleven inmates bolted out early Tuesday in southern Philippine provincial jail, police said.

Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said that the prisoners escaped from Maguindanao Provincial Jail located at PC Hill, Cotabato City at around 1:30 am local time.

He said the suspects were able to escape by cutting the iron grill of the jail's toilet using a hacksaw.

Hot pursuit operation is now being conducted by the joint elements of the police and the military, Cruz said.