Philippine jailers never planned on adding an Olympic-sized swimming pool to the local detention center.

Unfortunately, the recent super typhoon not only took countless neighborhoods, it also smashed through the prison's main gate and flooded the premises.  This is bad news for corrections officers, who say that after the storm stuck, nearly 120 inmates swam their way to freedom.

Staff members said that as the tide began to rise, they were left with no other option than to allow inmates out of their cells in order to swim to higher ground.

Some took the honest option and fled to higher floors.  Others saw this as an opportunity for freedom, and performed Olympic-worthy swim sprints out the front door.

The initial number of jail breakers had reportedly been estimated at close to 120, but a dozen or so of the fugitives have turned themselves back in.

Some of these offenders have been convicted of minor offenses while others were serving time for violent and sexual crimes.  This is putting many local residents at unease, especially as they are trying to re-secure their homes.

Detentions officials said they would not penalize any offender that turned themselves back in.  Many of these men, they said, left the facility in order to make sure their families were save.

One inmate, who has since returned of his own accord, said he just wanted to check on his wife and daughter.   Once he learned they were safe he was OK swimming back to jail.