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Muslim rebels deny hand in failed jailbreak in S. Philippines

21 February 2012 02:28 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. A senior Muslim separatist rebel vehemently denied on Monday night allegation of his group’s involvement in Sunday’s failed jailbreak in the southern Philippines that left three people dead and 15 others wounded, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"That’s not true. It’s not in our plan to carry out such attack because we are sincere in talking peace with the government. The man those behind planning to rescue from the prison facility is not our commander," Von Al Haq, spokesman for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front said.

Around 50 men raided the prison facility in the city of Kidapawan, North Cotabato, at around 10:30 p.m Sunday firing rocket propelled grenades at the front gate of the jail, said city police commander Chino Mamburam.

Mamburam said jail guards led by Chief Inspector Romeo Tactakin, provincial director of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, fought back with attackers, prompting them to pull back.

As the armed men withdrew, they fired rocket propelled grenades at a nearby Karaoke bar, leaving two civilians, Ian Carlos Sevilla and Mark Anthony Morales, dead. Also killed was Benny Vldejano, driver of the Philippine National Red Cross.

"They are planning but failed to rescue a high risk prisoner. We ask the government to transfer other high profile inmates to other locations, not in the city," Mamburam said.