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By Anthony Vargas Reporter
SIXTEEN inmates, including four
Abu Sayyaf bandits involved in the Dos Palmas kidnapping, bolted out
of the Basilan provincial jail on dawn Friday, police reports said.
Camp Crame sources identified the
Abu Sayyaf bandits as Etting Askali, Enteng Anjali, Abug Sampang and
Wakil Sampang.
The bandits along with 12 others
inmates escaped at around 4 a.m. from the provincial jail in
Barangay Sumagdang, Isabela City.
The other escapees were Jipon
Morales, Boyong-Boyong Isnijal, Gapor Jainal, Fernan Ramoncito,
Manah Paetang, Eric Ajibon, Hussin Ajibon, Bisit Jabdali, Jan Jappal,
Darkis Marisa, Ebrahim Mandol and Naim Latip.
Initial investigations showed
that the inmates used sharp instruments to forcibly cutoff the iron
bar at the top portion of their cell. Using several blankets and
ropes tied end to end, the inmates slipped from their cells and
scaled the fence of the compound.
Abug and Wakil Sampang were
arrested early this year in Zamboanga City in connection with the
abduction of 20 foreign and local tourists from the Dos Palmas
Resort in Palawan in June 2001.
Among those who were abducted in
the resort were American missionary couple Gracia and Martin
Burnham. Martin was killed a year later during a rescue operation in
the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Government security forces in the
province have launched manhunt operations against the escapees who
fled toward the southwestern portion of Isabela City.
Their escape came as Gracia
Burnham lauded government efforts of combating the threat of
terrorism and five days after the Human Security Act took effect.
The four were serving time for
kidnapping and murder, the police report said.
The Abu Sayyaf is blamed for the
worst terror attacks in the country’s history including bombings
and kidnappings of Christians and foreigners.
The Philippine prison system is
notorious for its poor security and regular prison breaks.
Authorities have said the Abu
Sayyaf may have been behind the kidnapping of Italian priest Father
Giancarlo Bossi, who was released late Thursday after more than a
month in captivity.
--With AFP
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