2 killed in Basilan jailbreak

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 14, 2020): 2 killed in Basilan jailbreak (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)  

Two people were killed while an escapee was recaptured during a pursuit operation after eight inmates bolted from the provincial jail of Basilan, officials said Wednesday.

Three of the subjects of the pursuit operation are alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) involved in the July 31, 2018 bombing of a militia detachment in Lamitan City, Basilan province, said Lt. Col. Homer Dumalag, Isabela City police chief.

Dumalag identified the fatalities as Jail Officer 3 (JO3) Asbi Salih and Torotoy Abbas, an inmate and alleged member of the ASG facing charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

Recaptured around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in Purok 5, Barangay Calvario, Isabela City, was Mahad Hassan, of Sumisip town who is charged with murder.

Nul Asmawil, provincial jail warden, disclosed that the jailbreak took place when Salih entered in one of the detention cells around 5 p.m. Tuesday. The provincial jail is located in Barangay Sumagdang, Isabela City.

Asmawil said the inmates grabbed the firearms of Salih as they ganged up and killed the jail guard.

Dumalag said the inmates, armed with a caliber .45 pistol and M4 rifle taken from Salih, fled toward Salain Drive, Barangay Sumagdang where they seized two motorcycles and a tricycle and sped to Barangay Kumalarang, Isabela City.

Dumalag said Abbas was killed as pursuing policemen caught him in Purok Gumamela, Barangay Sumagdang, several minutes after the jailbreak.

Still at large and subjects of manhunt operation are the following and their corresponding cases: Battuh Kusain, multiple murder, and multiple frustrated murder; Gappal Saripada, multiple murder, and frustrated murder; Hernie Asao, illegal possession of explosives and firearms; Nurhasan Lahaman, two counts murder; Albaser Ahmad, murder and frustrated murder; and Kaliji Hajirul, murder.

Authorities said Kusain, Saripada, and Ahmad are involved in the July 31, 2018 bombing of the Magkawit militia detachment at the borders of barangays Bulanting, Colonia, and Maganda, Lamitan City.

Ten people, five of them were militiamen, died from the explosion. Four victims, all relatives of the militiamen, and a soldier were also among the dead. Three goats grazing nearby were also killed.

Two militiamen and five Army Scout Rangers were wounded during the incident.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118490