Eight inmates of the Basilan Provincial Jail that include a sub-commander of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) killed a jail guard before they escaped on Monday night, police said on Wednesday.
But the follow-up operation conducted by personnel of the Basilan Provincial Jail led to the killing of one of the escapees, identified as Torotoy Abbas, during a follow-up operation in Purok Gumamela, Barangay Sumagdang in Isabela City.
A police report reaching Camp Crame stated that the jailbreak occurred at around 6 p.m. on Monday. Among those who escaped was Nurhassan Lahaman who surrendered to the military in 2017 along with at least six followers.
Lahaman, who is facing two counts of murder, is an ASG sub-leader operating in Sumisip town. He was tagged in a series of bomb attacks in Basilan before his surrender.
Aside from Lahaman and Abbas, those who escaped were identified as Battuh Kusain, facing multiple murder; Gappal Saripada, facing multiple murder; Hernie Asao, charged with illegal possession of explosives; Albaser Hammad, facing murder and frustrated murder; Mahad Assan, charged with murder; and Kaliji Hajirul, who is also facing a murder case.
“They were able to take one .45 pistol and one M4 rifle that resulted to the death of one jail guard identified as Asbi Florencio Salih,” the police report read.
Reportedly, Salih tried to block the escapees but were attacked. It was not immediately clear how the escapees were able to get out of their detention cell.
Policemen and soldiers were deployed in various areas in Isabela City and nearby areas to recapture the escapees.