1 hurt in Samar jail attack

MANILA, Philippines — A jail officer was hurt when 25 rebels raided a detention facility in Samar for firearms Wednesday evening, police said Thursday.

Citing provincial reports Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., Philippine National Police spokesman, said five officers of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) were no match for the rebels who attacked the jail in Lagundi village in Catbalogan City at around 7:30 p.m.

Cruz said the rebels stole firearms and fled with a 9-millimeter caliber pistol, a .45 caliber pistol and a .38 caliber revolver; two laptop computers and P10,000 in cash.

Cruz identified the lone victim as Jail Officer 2 Roberto Lim who was shot in the back by one of the rebels using an M16 rifle. He was rushed to the Samar Provincial Hospital.

Investigation into the incident was ongoing and joint elements of the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines conducted pursuit operations, said Cruz. He added that checkpoints were also set up in nearby towns.

Provincial police identified one of the rebels as a certain Gaben who also went by the name Manok. They said he had escaped from the same jail before.