Jailbreak prompts tighter security at Zambo prison

Following a daring predawn attack that freed at least three suspected bomb experts and 43 other inmates last Friday, security has been strengthened at a government jail facility in Zamboanga City. Sun-Star Zamboanga (www.sunstar.com.ph) reported Monday that the tighter security measures are now in place at the Zamboanga City Reformatory Center (ZCRC) where some bombers are detained. Jail warden Victor Borres said the tightened security measures include the strict inspection of visitors of inmates at the reformatory center. Borres also said surprise inspections of detention cells are now regularly done. He said one of the bombing suspects now detained at ZCRC is Muksin Ajijul Ahadil, turned over to them by the military’s anti-terrorist Task Force Zamboanga (TFZ) last Feb. 1. TFZ troops arrested the suspect last month in a checkpoint in Barangay Muti east of Zamboanga City. Ahadil was allegedly involved in the series of bombings in 2002 in this city that killed a dozen of people, including an American soldier, and injured more than 200 others. He said some of his personnel had undergone anti-terrorism training, including close-quarter battle and bomb detection, to respond to any attacks. All these measures, he admitted, are meant to prevent a repeat of the incident last Friday in the North Cotabato Provincial Jail in Kidapawan City. At least 46 inmates, including three former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) bomb experts, managed to escape following Friday’s attack. The MILF has disowned the attackers at North Cotabato and offered to join the manhunt for the escaped inmates. North Cotabato governor Emmanuel Piñol has offered potential informers a reward of P20,000 for each recaptured inmate. Police and military personnel in the area have set up a joint task force to prevent terrorist attacks and to track down the escapees. Malacañang had ordered an inventory of security measures in all jails nationwide to prevent a repeat of Friday's jailbreak. - GMANews.TV