Visits suspended at Zamboanga City jail after cops uncover Abu Sayyaf escape plot

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Jail authorities at the Zamboanga City Reformatory Center (ZCRC) announced the temporary suspension of visitation rights at the facility following the foiled Abu Sayyaf (ASG) plot to spring out its detained members at the facility.

Chief Insp. Julius Arro, ZCRC jail warden, said the decision was among the security measures adopted at the facility after the plot was discovered

“We hope they understand,” he said, referring to relatives of inmates.

Arro said it was not clear yet when the visitation rights would be restored.

“(But) once everything is clear, we will restore it. We are aware of the importance of visitation to an inmate,” he said.

On Tuesday, Arro said they had uncovered a plot by the Abu Sayyaf to spring out its jailed members. Jail officials said it could have turned bloody had the Abu Sayyaf succeeded in implementing their plan.

He said the plot was uncovered when jail guards noticed an unidentified woman bringing in earthen stove, not once, but thrice.

Arro said jail guards had already taken notice of the woman, who wore a Muslim garb, as a regular visitor.

But over the weekend, he said the woman caught more attention than usual when she brought in an earthen stove or pugon.

On the second instance, the jail guards were already growing suspicious and alerted Arro.

“Our security personnel noticed something unusual when the woman brought in pugon the second time. Secretly we had her tailed without indicating that we had become suspicious of her,” Arro said.

When she delivered the third stove, Arro said they confiscated it. The two stoves earlier delivered had also been seized.

“We broke the stoves down and discovered three .45 caliber pistols and a cellular phone,” he said.

The cellular phone also had messages that indicated the escape plan was to be executed on Monday night.

“The plan was to stage an attack Monday night, they will commence their plot at 6 p.m. and in the message, they were assured of support from the outside,” Arro added.

A few hours before the execution of the plot, Arro said he had the security perimeter of the Zamboanga City Reformatory Center along Calixto Street fortified with the help of the local police and the military.

Senior Supt. Angelito Casimiro, the city police director, said policemen were put on alert for suspicious movements.

Arro said the plot had been apparently foiled as Monday passed without any untoward incident. But he added that they were not letting their guard down yet.

He said an investigation was also being conducted against the inmates, who received the stoves from the unidentified visitor.

They were also placed in isolation and authorities have started tracking down the woman and another visitor.

“The police are now trying to locate them and they will also be charged,” Arro added.

Arro said the attempted jailbreak gave authorities more reason to expedite the transfer of high risk inmates to Manila.

At least 57 high-risk inmates are currently being held at the ZCRC, which holds about 1,500 prisoners, according to Arro.

“If those stoves were not discovered and inspected, I just could not imagine the jail facility now. It could have been a bloody jailbreak. Many could have died since we were informed that other inmates were planning to support the three,” Arro added.