ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines–Eight detainees–including an Abu Sayyaf member–bolted the Basilan provincial jail in Isabela City on Monday, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
Senior Superintendent Mario Buyuccan, Basilan police director, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone that jail personnel only discovered the jailbreak when they conducted a head count on Tuesday.
“Eight inmates were confirmed to have disappeared during inspection. One of the cell’s ceiling was destroyed. Apparently the prisoners escaped through the ceiling,” Buyuccan said.
He said among those who escaped was Usman Said, who had been arrested for kidnapping. It was not clear what crimes Said was involved in or when and where he was arrested.
Buyuccan identified the other escapees, who face such cases as murder and involvement in illegal drugs as Akmad Arasani, Robert dela Cruz, Serham Baquio alias Boy Takas, Benhar Ibrahim, Oliver Tinguha, Mumar Jajuli and Arajan Dala.
Based on initial investigation, Buyuccan said the inmates took advantage of the limited presence of jail personnel on Monday evening and escaped from the facility.
“We see some negligence on the part of the provincial jail personnel,” Buyuccan said.
It was not the first time that a jailbreak occurred at the facility.
On December 13, 2009, 31 inmates also bolted jail.
On April 10, 2004, 57 prisoners–mostly Abu Sayyaf members–escaped. Eight of them were subsequently killed while only nine had been recaptured.
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