3 killed, 13 wounded in failed rescue of robbery suspect in N. Cotabato jail

KIDAPAWAN CITY — Three people were killed and 13 others were wounded when alleged followers of a detained robbery suspect staged a daring rescue here about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

The armed men failed to spring out the suspect though.

Senior Superintendent Cornelio Salinas, North Cotabato Police Provincial Office (NCCPO) chief, said the armed men initially fired a rocket-propelled grenade towards the city jail, which is near the city fire office and the city hall, wounding several fire officers — including provincial fire marshall Inspector Romeo Tactaquin — and jail guards.

Red Cross personnel, who were posted nearby immediately responded and were trying to bring the victims to a hospital when the armed men – whose number remained undetermined – suddenly opened fire.

Red Cross driver Benny Balmediano was killed, along with students Ian Carlos Sevilla and Mark Anthony Morales – who were in a store near the city jail.

Embattled jailguards, reinforced by policemen, engaged the attackers in a five-minute firefight before the gunmen withdrew, some rode motorcycles while others fled on foot, Salinas said.

“The wounded are now safe and some of them even went home after being given medical attention,” he said.

Sunday’s incident here was the latest in the daring rescue staged by armed men of their detained comrades.

In June 2009, suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels also stormed the North Cotabato provincial jail in Barangay (village) Amas here and tried but failed to spring out their detained comrades.

In 2007, some 49 inmates also bolted jail after alleged members of kidnap syndicate Pentagon gang mounted a lightning rescue operation to free three of their own detained at the facility.

Among those who managed to escape following the raid were three inmates linked to the spate of bomb attacks in Central Mindanao.