The Hindu : International : Filipino police storm prison to end hostage crisis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 16, 2005

International

International

Filipino police storm prison to end hostage crisis

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE, MARCH 15. The Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police today stormed a high security prison in Manila to quell an uprising by some inmates, said to be linked to the Abu Sayyaf group of terrorists, and rescued a number of their fellow-prisoners, who were being held hostage during a stand-off with the authorities that lasted over 24 hours.

At least 20 persons, including probably three prison guards at the Camp Bagong Diwa detention facility, were reported killed, either during the operation by the security forces or at the time of the aborted jail break that triggered the crisis on Monday.

Some observers said almost all the prisoners who died belonged to the Abu Sayyaf Group which, according to the intelligence community in the region, has links to Jemaah Islamiyah, suspected affiliate of the Al-Qaeda in southeast Asia.

Pat for police

The Filipino President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, praising the Crisis Management Committee, headed by the Interior and Local Governments Secretary, Angelo Reyes, for the successful operation, said terrorism would not win in the Philippines.

She said the decision to storm the prison was taken only after efforts at negotiating an end to the crisis failed and the "terrorists" refused to surrender.

The crisis began with the killing of prison guards by some "Abu Sayyaf inmates" as they attempted a jail-break, which was then thwarted by other guards, according to the authorities.

Later, taking the fellow-inmates hostage, the "terrorists" raised various demands including a quick trial or immediate release.

Terrorist acts have become frequent in the Philippines, especially in the southern provinces, where separatist rebels and ransom-seeking groups have been operating for several years now.

The military and other security agencies have been mandated to wipe out terrorism, and Manila has also received help from the U.S. in this regard.

Reuters reports:

The Manila police chief, Avelino Razon, said they had received intelligence reports as early as last December that Abu Sayyaf suspects might be planning a jail break and were smuggling in parts of weapons, mobile phones and explosives.

``We took some pre-emptive measures, but, apparently, there were lapses on the part of jail officials,'' he said.

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