Sayyaf man, 7 others bolt jail

ZAMBOANGA CITY —Eight inmates, including a member of the terror group Abu Sayyaf, bolted the Basilan provincial jail in Isabela City on Monday, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

Senior Supt. Mario Buyuccan, Basilan police director, told the Inquirer on the phone that jail guards discovered the escape only after conducting a head count on Tuesday.

“Eight inmates had disappeared,” Buyuccan said. He said jail authorities saw part of the ceiling in the facility destroyed, adding that the escapees could have used that to flee.

He said among those who escaped was Usman Said, a member of the Abu Sayyaf who had been arrested for kidnapping.

Buyuccan identified the other escapees, who face cases ranging from murder to involvement in illegal drugs, as Akmad Arasani, Robert de la Cruz, Serham Baquio alias Boy Takas, Benhar Ibrahim, Oliver Tinguha, Mumar Jajuli and Arajan Dala.

“We see some negligence,” Buyuccan said. It was not the first time that a jailbreak occurred in the facility. Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao