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Thursday, March 17, 2005
5 jail officials relieved over prison revolt
By Jonathan F. Fernandez
MANILA -- A jail warden and four of his subordinates were relieved Wednesday after a botched escape bid and two-day takeover by Abu Sayyaf detainees of the Camp Bagong Diwa detention center in Taguig, Manila.
Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes ordered the relief of five jail officers pending the outcome of an investigation on alleged lapses in procedures at the Metro Manila Rehabilitation Center (MMRC).
Relieved were Jail Superintendent Romeo Elisan, the prison warden; Chief Inspector Jaime Aquino, deputy warden; and jail guards Allan Sta. Cruz, Ricarte Laxamana and Homer Ortega.
Superintendent Danilo Abelende replaced Elisan.
Reyes said the procedural lapses resulted in the killing of three jail guards and two detainees on Monday and 23 mostly Abu Sayyaf inmates and a policeman on Tuesday when security officers stormed the prison to retake the facility.
The three top Abu Sayyaf leaders killed in the assault and 14 other prisoners were buried Wednesday morning in a mass grave in a cemetery in Taguig in keeping with a Muslim tradition of burying their dead within 24 hours.
"There were definite lapses. That's why three guards were killed. (The detained Abu Sayyaf members) planned the jailbreak and studied the people," Reyes said.
He said a review of the system in the jail will be made and corrective measures will be implemented.
Reyes formed a seven-member body to investigate the incident and punish jail officers found negligent in their duties. He asked Local Government Assistant Secretary Marius Corpus to head the investigating team.
Corpus said Reyes gave them 60 days to finish the investigation.
"We will find out the cause of the attempted jailbreak, review the manpower and resources of the jail system, and determine the culpability, if any, of the jail guards," Corpus said.
Aside from alleged lapses on the part of the jail officers, Corpus said they would also look into how the Abu inmates managed to smuggle five handguns and two grenades they used to engage the assault team in a gunfight inside the jail compound.
Killed during the assault on the jail were Abu Sayyaf leaders Ghalib Andang alias Kumander Robot, Alhamsa Manalad Limbong alias Kumander Kosovo, and Nadmi Saabdula alias Kumander Global. Also killed were Habie Daei alias Ka Lando, the Sayyaf spokesman during the jail revolt, Iznain Zahiron, Ibrahim Joe Hami, Jaefar Mundi, Muhaisser Ilao, Amil Ulla, Ibnov Hasser Agsi, Almudi Tarbangza, Halal Ambazo, Hadji Ahmad Opao, Almazur Mawadi, Basoan Pael, Lim Abduracid, Jojo Jolo, Hamad Arawangsa, Badran Abdul Hamid, Maolirin Mubassirin, Nassier Jay I Impal, and Muktar Abukhair.
Abel Peña Arriola of the police's Special Action Force (SAF) also died in the assault.
Wounded were policemen Jose Modequillo, Napoleon Cabrera, Sandy Caoile, Noel Celeste, and a certain Belen.
A three-year-old girl believed to be the daughter of the owner of the store inside the jail was likewise taken from the scene of the assault. She got suffocated by the tear gas fumes.
During the clearing operation, police recovered from the inmates seven various types of caliber .45 pistols and a fragmentation hand grenade.
The two-day siege started on Monday when 10 Abu Sayyaf inmates headed by Limbong grabbed the firearms of the jail guards who were conducting a headcount of the prisoners and shot them.
Killed were Senior Jail Officer 4 Edgar Dajay and jail guards Amadeo Salapate and Rogelio dela Cruz, and an inmate named Edcel Piga. They also wounded another jail guard, JO1 Albert Lubrio, and several other prisoners.
The detainees attempted to escape from the jail but the other jail guards and policemen blocked their path. The jail guards and policemen shot dead two inmates, Bohamn Hadji Abdulah Paraha and Ibno Mubarak.
Limbong's group decided to hole themselves up in the prison building. Limbong's group joined Andang, Saabdula and other Abu Sayyaf members and occupied the building's second floor.
Negotiations were made for the surrender of the inmates but talks bogged down and police decided to retake the jail by force.
Police are still determining if all the slain Muslim inmates were members of the Abu Sayyaf group.
| Post your experiences to the Sun.Star Graduation section. Click here. | 2005-02-24 04:52:02
mcalvo - My graduation was unforgettable to me and to my classmates. I was so drunk the night before graduation. During the ceremony i dozed to the point of snooring even when i was already standing i was half sleeping. Our dean has to call my name twice and the person behind me has to push me just to wake me up... graduations are memorable...enjoy and congratulations to all graduates!
Read more experiences |
(March 17, 2005 issue)
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