57 Abu Sayyaf, MILF detainees involved in foiled Zambo jailbreak - PNP

From InterAksyon (Jan 21): 57 Abu Sayyaf, MILF detainees involved in foiled Zambo jailbreak - PNP

At least 57 detainees of the Zamboanga City Reformatory Center with ties to the Abu Sayyaf and a “rogue” faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front were involved in a jailbreak attempt that was foiled Monday, police said.

Military intelligence reports earlier said the plot was hatched by Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf sub-commander Furiji Indama, mainly to spring his brother Benzar, who is detained at the ZCRC.

Although the plan fell through, authorities have placed Zambonga City on red alert and security forces have mounted patrols in Barangay Cawa-Cawa, a few kilometers from the jail in Barangay Zone 2, following reports the Abu Sayyaf was fielding teams from Basilan and Sulu to aid the jailbreak.

Inspector Dahlan Samuddin, acting public information chief of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO9), said Wednesday a Special Weapons and Tactics team has deployed to reinforce security at the ZCRC while a police combat platoon has been positioned along Cawa-Cawa Boulevard.

Quick reaction teams from Zamboanga City police and the Regional Public Safety Battalion have also been dispatched on round-the-clock patrols, while maritime police boats patrol the city’s shoreline.

The military has also deployed troops to the ZCRC and put armored personnel carriers on standby at Camp Batalla.

ZCRC guards, acting on a tip, mounted a surprise search of the jail Monday and seized firearms and ammunition that had been smuggled in for the jailbreak.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/103471/57-abu-sayyaf-milf-detainees-involved-in-foiled-zambo-jailbreak---pnp