Notorious bandit, 11 others bolt Maguindanao provincial jail

[wpgmappity id=”534″]

COTABATO CITY—Moro rebels  tried but failed to free the “Lastikman” when they stormed the North Cotabato provincial jail in Kidapawan City in February. Three people were killed and 15 others wounded.

A day after President Benigno Aquino praised jail officials for foiling the attempt by armed men to spring one of their confederates from prison in February, 12 inmates—including the former rebel leader-turned-bandit—bolted the Maguindanao provincial jail here shortly after midnight Tuesday.

Two of the escapees were immediately captured, police said. The provincial jail on PC Hill is just a few blocks away from the city police headquarters and a military detachment.

“They are dangerous people. We would like city residents and constituents of nearby Maguindanao province to report to us any sighting of these criminals,” Senior Superintendent Danny Reyes, city police chief, told a radio station.

Among those who escaped was Datukan Montok Samad, alias “Lastikman,” who is facing a string of criminal charges, including cattle rustling, robbery, bombings, extortion and kidnapping.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said he was “saddened” by the jailbreak, which happened after the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) marked its 21st anniversary at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday.

The President, who was the main guest of the celebration, said in a speech that while it was “good news” for the BJMP to improve its recovery rate of escapees to 60 percent, “wouldn’t it be better if nobody would escape from our prisons?”

He lauded jail authorities for improving prison conditions and blunting the February raid to free Samad. “Despite a desperate attempt by some armed groups to free one of the prisoners, they were forced to retreat because our brave men from the BJMP did not waver,” he said.

Reyes identified the other escapees as Yu Salim Macmod, Bong Usop, Anwar Maguid, Fahad Daguiman, Basco Puas, Abel Unsing, Kagkem Umar, Saipona Baulo, Siki Pilas, Ogi Kimbao and Ampoy Kimbao, who are facing charges ranging from drug pushing to murder and frustrated murder.

Macmod and Usop were immediately recaptured while trying to cross the Rio Grande de Mindanao, said Superintendent Marlo Martinez, deputy city police director.

Warden Kasan Odin said the prisoners sawed off the iron bars of the window near the toilet inside their cell, and fled at 1:30 a.m. He said they could have long planned their escape. With reports from DJ Yap and Gil C. Cabacungan in Manila

Originally posted: 10:44 am | Tuesday, July 10th, 2012