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Saturday, July 21, 2007
16 inmates, including terrorists, escape from jail
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Government troops were deployed to track down 16 inmates, including four terrorists from the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, who escaped from the provincial jail of Basilan on Friday, police said.
The escape took place between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., said Basilan police head Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao.
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The inmates, according to assistant provincial police director Chief Inspector Christopher Panapan, sawed through the iron bars and used blankets to scale the jail wall.
Roving jail guards discovered the escape of the 16 inmates from the provincial jail in Isabela City at past 3 a.m. Friday, police said.
Panapan said a manhunt was under way to recapture them. They included four members of the Abu Sayyaf, a brutal group responsible for kidnappings, beheadings, and bomb attacks that is on a US list of terrorist organizations.
Police identified the four as Eting Ascalani, Enteng Anjin, Abu Sampang, and Wahil Sampang. They are facing charges of kidnapping.
The 10 others were identified as Boyong-Boyong Isnijal, Gapua Sainal, Hernan Ramoncito, Gipon Morales, Allan Kaetong, Eric Ajibon, Sosin Ajibon, John Japal, Ebrahim Mandol and Nahim Latip.
The jailbreak was the 25th in the country this year. Most jails are overcrowded and security is lax.
Basilan, about 850 kilometers south of Manila, is a predominantly Muslim province that used to be an Abu Sayyaf stronghold before a 2002 US-backed offensive crippled the group and dispersed its leaders.
Tensions recently flared up on the island after the military accused the Muslim separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Abu Sayyaf of ambushing a convoy of Marines, killing 14 troops and beheading 10 of them. (AP/Bong Garcia/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. (July 21, 2007 issue)
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