More Than 150 Inmates Escape In Philippine Jail Raid
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published January 04, 2017 | 03:35 PM
KIDAPAWAN, Philippines, Jan 4, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 04th Jan, 2017 ) - Suspected Muslim rebels staged the Philippines' biggest jailbreak Wednesday when they stormed a dilapidated jail in the violence-plagued south of the country, freeing 158 inmates and killing a guard, authorities said.
The attack added to a long history of daring jailbreaks in the southern Philippines, home to a decades-old Muslim separatist insurgency as well as extremist gangs that have recently declared allegiance to the Islamic State group.
More than 100 armed men believed to have been led by a local Muslim guerrilla commander attacked the jail in Kidapawan city about 1:00am in what appeared to be a well-planned raid to free fellow rebels, jail authorities said.
"There are high-value targets in our custody who were the subject of a rescue operation," jail warden Peter John Bonggat told AFP. The assailants were heavily armed and overwhelmed the 24 guards at the jail, according to Bonggat, who was involved in the effort to repel the gunmen and said one of his officers had been killed.
At least 158 prisoners escaped, Bonggat told AFP, although it was unclear how many of those were linked to the attackers or were just other inmates who took advantage of the chaos. Bonggat said the jail, which housed 1,511 inmates, was a run-down former school building located in a forested, secluded area.
Kidapawan, 950 kilometres (590 miles) south of Manila, is home to various Muslim rebel groups, criminal gangs and communist insurgents. "We have many Muslim personalities (in the jail) that are members of various organised, syndicated groups," Bonggat said.
He said the attackers were believed to be militants who had broken away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the nation's largest Muslim rebel organisation which is in peace talks with the government.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
PM vows to work for country along with students
US ambassador meets Senate Chairman, discusses bilateral ties
UHS to issue MBBS degrees within three months after final result
Aiman Khan granted UAE Golden Visa
PSX achieves significant milestone, surpasses 72,000 mark
Pak Vs NZ T20I: Orphaned children extended special invitation to watch match
Finance Minister lauds UNDP’s unwavering support during floods
President Raisi leaves for Iran from Karachi
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 24 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 24 April 2024
Punjab CM inaugurates Pakistan’s first Virtual Women Police Station
Dutch model Donny Roelvink embraces Islam
More Stories From World
-
EU urges probe into reported mass graves at Gaza hospitals
1 minute ago -
Gucci owner Kering's shares sink after profit warning
2 minutes ago -
Extreme heat scorches Southeast Asia, bringing school closures and warnings
12 minutes ago -
Ambassador Hashmi greets China on Space Day
22 minutes ago -
Mass cancellations loom despite French air union calling off strike
42 minutes ago -
Record-breaking London stocks spearhead global rally
51 minutes ago
-
'City Hunter' manga hero drops the sexism for new live-action film
51 minutes ago -
Russian deputy defence minister held over bribery accusations
51 minutes ago -
Danger warning issued for Bangkok as extreme heat bites
1 hour ago -
Iran cuts Syria presence after strikes blamed on Israel: monitor
1 hour ago -
Four injured as escaped army horses bolt through central London
1 hour ago -
Biden pledges swift weapons delivery to Ukraine
1 hour ago