World | Philippines
Bombing suspect escapes from jail
A suspect in the bombing of the House of Representatives in suburban Quezon City last year escaped from jail in Camp Crame on Monday, a police officer said.
- By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:43 October 7, 2008
Manila: A suspect in the bombing of the House of Representatives in suburban Quezon City last year escaped from jail in Camp Crame on Monday, a police officer said.
Ikram Indama was declared missing from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) jail in Camp Crame at six on Monday morning, said CIDG chief Raul Castaneda.
"Authorities are now looking for him. We are trying to get in touch with his family," said Castaneda, who warned, "He will lose his state witness status if it is proven that he escaped from CIDG's jail."
State witness
Sources said that Indama wanted to be under the custody of another government unit because he did not feel safe at the CIDG jail. Earlier, Indama sought protection from the government after he decided to become a state witness.
He reportedly wanted to identify the mastermind in the bombing incident that killed Congressman Wahab Akbar from Basilan in the south.
Indama was a former aide and driver of former Congressman Gerry Salapuddin Akbar's political rival. Indama and two others were arrested after the bombing at the south wing of the House of Representatives on November 13.
Indama was also tagged as a member of the Abu Sayyaf, a local terror group blamed for kidnap for ransom.
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