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Monday, August 11, 2003
Kuratong beheads Cebu jail escapee
By Allan I. Varquez
CEBU -- Notorious robbers Reil Bautista and Felix Al-os, who bolted from the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC) last March, were reportedly murdered in Ozamiz City by members of the Kuratong Baleleng gang.
A Criminal Intelligence and Investigation (CIIB) operative said, however, that the information relayed to him by BBRC Warden Gledo Baroro still has to be verified, before investigators consider the case of Bautista and Al-os closed.
The CIIB was tasked to track down the two since they escaped from the city jail on March 23, together with Joel “Tongol” Nodalo and two other inmates. Last time these escapees were traced, they were in Iloilo City.
The CIIB agent, who requested anonymity, said Baroro told him that Bautista was killed a month ago, while Al-os was beheaded last week in Barangay Tinago, Ozamiz City.
He said Baroro obtained the information about Bautista and Al-os’ death from the Region 9 office of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) based in Zamboanga City.
He said BJMP 9 faxed a picture of the beheaded Al-os to BJMP in Cebu City.
Not me
Baroro, however, denied he was the source of the information, in a phone interview with Sun.Star.
Only Bautista, Al-os and Mitchel Berbabe remain at large after the jailbreak. Nodalo and Washington Calimbo were recaptured shortly after their escape. Nodalo was shot in the leg.
Bautista has two robbery convictions and another for highway robbery.
Al-os, on the other hand, was linked to the Kuratong Baleleng and was blamed for the killing of PO2 Romeo Gelig, who traded shots with him and his group after they robbed the Najid Carpet Gallery in March 2001.
It was not the first time Bautista bolted from the Cebu City jail. On Feb. 25 last year, he led a jailbreak. He was recaptured on Oct. 21.
Another intelligence official said the Kuratong Baleleng murdered the two because they suspect these men have been used as civilian assets by the PNP.
But reports of their death surprised police and BJMP officials in Regions 9 and 10.
No reports
BJMP 9 chief for administration Insp. Alan Tampus said there was no report reaching his office about fugitives Al-os and Bautista being murdered in Ozamiz City.
The information Baroro allegedly obtained couldn’t also be from their office, because Ozamiz City is part of Region 10, not Region 9.
He admitted, though, that their intelligence division is working independently from his office.
Sun.Star tried to call up the Region 10 office of the BJMP in Cagayan de Oro City, but nobody answered the phone.
Calls to the Ozamiz City Police Office, Police Mobile Group (PMG), Misamis Occidental Provincial Police Office (MOPPO) and the Regional Tactical Operations Center (RTOC) also showed these offices knew nothing about Al-os and Bautista being killed.
Ozamiz City is under MOPPO, while RTOC is tasked to monitor the peace and order of Region 10.
PO3 Douglas Largo, of MPG, said he radioed Ozamiz City Police Office for verification, but he was told that they too have not heard about it.
Barangay Tinago, where Al-os was reportedly beheaded, is next to Barangay Lawis, where many Kuratong Baleleng gang members have been traced. Sun.Star Cebu
(August 11, 2003 issue)
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3 killed in hunt for escaped terrorist