Bloody jail escape attempt foiled

Inmates carry a wounded jail guard outside a maximum security prison in Camp Bagong Diwa in the Manila suburban city of Taguig yesterday. Suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels seized a building in the prison after a botched jailbreak that left five people dead, officials said. PHOTO: EPA

A group of Muslim-extremist inmates at a maximum-security jail in Manila agreed to surrender yesterday after snatching weapons from guards in an escape attempt that left at least five people dead, police said.

Police the facility at Camp Bagong Diwa, where 425 suspects are detained, including 129 suspected members and leaders of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group.

"There was some delay because they feared for their safety," said Avelino Razon, police chief for the metropolitan Manila area. "But they changed their minds and they've agreed to come out."

Under agreement to end the day-long standoff, two inmates were to address the media, and the others were then to emerge in groups of about 10, said Mujib Hataman, a Muslim congressman who was negotiating with the inmates by telephone.

The prisoners had also demanded assurances they wouldn't be harmed if they surrendered, speedy trials and the right to air their grievances to authorities, he said.

At least three guards were killed, said police Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. Two Abu Sayyaf members also were killed and three guards wounded, police said.

Police Leopoldo Bataoil, who had warned of a major assault if the inmates didn't give up their weapons, said about 10 men were involved in the uprising, led by Abu Sayyaf members Alhamzer Manatad Limbong and Kair Abdul Gapar.

A spokesman for the Abu Sayyaf suspects, detainee Hazdi Daie, threatened that if police stormed the building, "then you will hear bombings all over Manila."

Limbong allegedly involved in a mass kidnapping in 2001-2002 that left several hostages dead, including two Americans, and a ferry bombing a year ago that killed more than 100 people in the Philippines' worst terror attack. Gapar is a kidnapping suspect.

The day-long drama began when a suspected Abu Sayyaf member, who was about to be escorted to a morning court hearing, overpowered a guard before he could be handcuffed, took a rifle and shot the prison officers around him, police officials said. Other inmates then grabbed weapons.

It wasn't clear if hostages were being held, Cruz said. But Daie, the inmates' spokesman, told DZBB radio that the suspects were holding about 100 hostages. Police said only inmates remained inside the aging building.

State prosecutor Peter Medalle told reporters that jail guards were tipped off about a possible prison break three weeks ago because of an intercepted mobile phone conversation between Limbong and Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Solaiman.

"We warned them repeatedly ... as late as last week of the planned escape. Apparently, our warnings were ignored," he said.