Manila dangles 2m peso bounty for help in capturing fugitives

Manila: The Philippines' anti-terrorism council has offered two million pesos (Dh159,318.72 ) for information leading to the capture of 21 militants and 10 other prisoners who escaped from jail in the southern Philippines on Sunday.

About 2,000 soldiers and policemen were deployed on the southern island province of Basilan to hunt down the fugitives.

One fugitive who was reportedly a member of the terror group Abu Sayyaf was killed, while another inmate surrendered, a senior military commander said.

Major General Benjamin Dolorfino blamed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for Sunday's raid on Basilan provincial jail.

The main rebel group, which last week resumed peace talks with the government, denied any role but acknowledged at least one member who joined in the attack was killed.

Back-to-back crises

The raid was the latest in back-to-back crises underscoring the complexity of conflicts in southern Philippines, an impoverished region awash with firearms, outlaws, political warlords and insurgents.

About 70 gunmen used a sledgehammer and boltcutters to tear a hole in the concrete wall of the jail, which had 40 detainees, and barged inside to spring their comrades out. One of the attackers and a jail guard were killed during the raid.

While the criminals were expected to surrender, the militants will likely "fight it out to the last drop of their blood," Dolorfino said.

Troops launched offensives in two Basilan hinterland areas where the militants were sighted, Dolorfino said.

"For these escaped rebels, we have shifted from pursuit to punitive actions," Dolorfino told AP.

Police clashed with a small group of fugitives not far from the jail in Basilan's capital of Isabela on Monday, killing one from the Abu Sayyaf, Dolorfino said. Another fugitive surrendered and a third fled and was being chased by policemen, he said.

The escapees split into several groups, with the guerrillas fleeing into their mountainous strongholds in Basilan's Sumisip and Al Barka townships, where combat troops were deployed, he said.

Officials offered rewards for the capture of the fugitives and the rebels who helped them escape.

"The government is releasing more than two million pesos for their recapture," said Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, spokesperson of the Anti-Terror Council, adding, "The ATC is calling on the public for assistance. The identity of the informant will be kept confidential."

Other common criminals who escaped are encouraged to turn themselves in, said Blancaflor.

"Some 18 Abu Sayyaf group members and three MILF rebels who escaped are high-value prisoners. They are undergoing trial for kidnapping, murder and multiple frustrated murder," he said.

One of the rebel commanders, Haj Hassan Asnawi, also known as Dan Laksaw, was captured three weeks ago. Police commandos and a team from ATC's Counter-Terrorism Unit were sent to Basilan on Sunday.

Terror activities in southern Philippines have been ongoing in recent times.

Abu Sayyaf members have dumped the severed head of a man they had kidnapped in a park in Basilan. The group also kidnapped a college professor on Basilan. The Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for kidnap for ransom, beheading and other terror activities in the south.

Manila Suspected bandits demanded P20 million (Dh1.6 million) ransom for the release of a school official who was kidnapped in southern Philippine province of Basilan last Thursday, a newspaper report said.

A report published in the Philippine Star said ransom demands were made through the family of victim Orlando Fajardo, Basilan State College (BSC) president Hakim Edris, and Basilan Vice Governor Al Rasheed Sakalahul, chairman of the provincial Crisis Management Committee, which has been negotiating with the kidnappers.

The suspects, believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf terror group, demanded 100,000 pesos for the continuation of the negotiations. They also asked for medicines for Fajardo who is suffering from diabetes and heart ailment. It was the first time that the kidnappers called up Fajardo's family and the BSC, said Sakalahul.

Security forces have identified the whereabouts of the kidnappers, Sakalahul said, adding: "It is not time yet to reveal the place as there is an ongoing police and military effort to get the victim."

No ransom

He did not reveal if the ransom demand will be paid. The Philippine government observes a no-ransom policy in kidnapping cases..

Fajardo, vice president of BSC, was with his wife and a neighbor when their van was blocked by unidentified gunmen in Sumagdang village last Thursday.