Philippine Police Storm Jail After Talks Collapse; 22 Inmates Slain

MANILA —  Firing tear gas grenades and automatic weapons, Philippine police stormed a Manila jail today that had been seized by militant Muslim prisoners and killed 22 inmates, including four leaders of the extremist Abu Sayyaf group.

Among those killed was Alhambser Manatad Limbong, known as Kosovo, an Abu Sayyaf leader, Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes said. Limbong is believed to have led the botched escape attempt that began Monday morning when inmates seized a guard’s weapon and killed him. Two more guards and two detainees were killed as the prisoners seized control of the Bicutan detention center, police said.

Authorities said they had attempted to negotiate a peaceful end to the standoff and were prepared to let the Abu Sayyaf leaders hold a news conference in exchange for their surrender. But the deal fell apart when the inmates insisted on keeping their weapons during the media appearance.

After more than 24 hours of negotiations, hundreds of heavily armed police rushed the maximum-security jail amid the sound of explosions and small-arms fire.

Police said they had regained control over most of the facility within an hour and evacuated nearly all the 470 prisoners as the officers hunted down the armed inmates.

A total of 129 alleged Abu Sayyaf members were being held at the jail, authorities said. The extremist group, which has long-standing ties to Al Qaeda, is best known for its high-profile kidnapping of foreign tourists, including three Americans who were seized at a resort on Palawan Island in 2001.

Prison officials had been warned weeks ago that Limbong might stage an escape attempt. An Abu Sayyaf suspect who was arrested in a recent bombing said he had been instructed to deliver weapons and explosives to inmates in the jail.

“We received information that there was going to be an attempt to spring Kosovo from detention,” said Metro Manila Police Gen. Avelino Razon. “We relayed this information to the officials of the detention facility, with orders to meticulously inspect all the cells and be more strict with visitors and packages.”

Five officers were wounded in the storming of the jail, including one who said he was injured by shrapnel apparently from an improvised bomb.

Interior Secretary Reyes said that among those killed in the assault were Kair Abdul Gapar, a one-legged inmate known as Commander Robot; Nadzmie Sabtulah, known as Commander Global; and Abu Sayyaf spokesman Ka Lando.

The Philippines has had a history of jailbreaks involving militant inmates.

Jemaah Islamiah bomb maker Fathur Rohman Al Ghozi walked out of his cell at police headquarters in Manila with two Abu Sayyaf members in 2003. He was later gunned down at a police checkpoint.

Reyes said that the decision to storm the jail was a difficult one but that authorities had exhausted all other options.

“For all intents and purposes, this crisis is over,” he said.

“We do not shoot innocent people. Our guidance was it should be quick. We used reasonable force.”

Times special correspondent Vanzi reported from Manila and staff writer Paddock from Singapore.