THE military has ordered its troops to help in the manhunt operations against 12 detainees who escaped from the Jolo Municipal Police detention jail in Sulu last Saturday and ensure they are immediately rearrested.
The 12 fugitives, who were mostly facing drug-related charges, were among the 29 detainees who bolted from the jail facility at around 10:40 a.m. last Saturday, and have since been the subject of operations by the Sulu Provincial Police Office.
The 17 others were quickly rearrested after the escape, now the subject of an ongoing investigation by the provincial police.
The Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command has directed the Joint Task Force Sulu to mobilize troops and assist the policemen in the province-wide search for the escaped detainees.
Those who were being hunted were identified as Herbert Bael, Radzmir Salahuddin, Nurhassan Taasan, Allim Misah, Abdulwahid Lipae, Hunal Sali, Alvin Hamid, Al-amil Kipli, Algamer Bantala, Muthamir Pangambayan, Khan Balang and Dante Abulla.
Their escape prompted the relief of all the members of the Jolo police station and were replaced by policemen from the Sulu Provincial Police Office.
Meanwhile, two warring families from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) engaged in skirmishes in Matalam, North Cotabato, prompting the evacuation of residents living in three villages.
Cotabato Provincial Police Office spokesman Supt. Bernard Tayong said the group of Commanders Manzur Imbong and Pong Unsil fought with the group of MNLF Commander Tato Manial at Barangay Marbel.
At least two fighters were reportedly killed while seven others were wounded, but Tayong said the reports of casualties was still being verified.
Imbong is the commander of the MIlF’s 108th Base Command while Unsil, a relative, is a commander of the 110th Base Command.