P2M reward up for Basilan jail escapees

The government is offering a P2-million reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of 21 of the 31 inmates who bolted out of a Basilan jail facility over the weekend. Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, who is also the spokesman of the Anti-Terrorism Council, said these 21 "high value prisoners" included 18 members of the notorious Abu Sayyaf group and three members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). He said these fugitives are undergoing trial for kidnapping, murder, and multiple frustrated murder charges. “The P2-million is on top of the reward money for each of the Abu Sayyaf Group members and MILF rebels. This means that more than P2-million will be awarded to whoever can provide information for the recapture of the escapees," he said in a statement. One of the escapees, MILF leader Hassan Asnawi alias Dan Laksaw, was captured only three weeks ago and is awaiting the promulgation of his case next week, according to Blancaflor.

Gunmen believed to be MILF members stormed the Basilan Provincial Police Office in Isabela City past 1 a.m. Sunday and tore down the facility's walls, allowing 31 inmates to escape. Two people - a jail guard and one of the attackers - were killed in the predawn violence. The MILF has denied participation in the attack. Basilan Vice Governor Al Rasheed Sakalahul said one of the escaped inmates was killed Monday while another one was recaptured as authorities continue to hunt down the fugitives. Blancaflor, meanwhile, appealed to the public to help authorities recapture the fugitives, even as he assured them that their identities would be kept confidential. He also called on the “common criminals" that participated in the jailbreak to surrender. He said the Philippine National Police (PNP) has already beefed up security measures in the province with the deployment of the PNP Special Action Force from Sulu and the ATC Counter-Terrorism Unit to assist in the ongoing pursuit operations. PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa has already ordered the investigation on Basilan provincial warden Jumaril Sali and jail guards Sixto Diaz and Danie Cumbo to see if they colluded with the attackers. - KBK, GMANews.TV