Mindanao Gov Criticized Over Shoot-To-Kill Order vs Escaped Prisoners

SULTAN KUDARAT (Mindanao Examiner / 09 Feb) – North Cotabato governor Emmanuel Pinol continues to draw criticisms over his “shoot-to-kill” order on about 4 dozen prisoners who escaped from a provincial jail.

The prisoners escaped Feb. 2 after gunmen raided the facility. Authorities said among those who bolted from jail were several suspected terrorists, one of them an Abu Sayyaf militant, linked to October bombings in North Cotabato that killed eight people.

Pinol insisted the raiders were members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and gave a shoot-to-kill order on top of a P20,000 bounties for each of the prisoners. The MILF denied the accusations and criticized Pinol for his shoot-to-kill order.

The military said the gunmen were members of the dreaded kidnap syndicate called Pentagon Gang.

“Pinol should have let the families of these prisoners or religious groups negotiate first for their surrender rather than issuing a shoot-to-kill order. The prisoners are running for their live instead of surrendering peacefully.”

“It was an irresponsible decision, being the head of the local crisis committee, because Pinol should have exerted efforts to convince the prisoners to surrender peacefully,” said Hussin Abdullah, a passenger jeep driver.

Many of those who escaped were suspects in various crimes and had not been convicted yet.

Troops were also helping the police track down the prisoners. But the hunt could be more difficult because the areas where the prisoners are believed to hiding are also strongholds of the MILF, which is currently negotiating peace with Manila.

Rebel leaders fear that security forces may intrude into their bases that can spark fighting between MILF gunmen and government soldiers.

The MILF said it is willing to help the police and military in the hunt for prisoners. “We are willing to help the authorities hunt down the prisoners if the Philippine government seeks our help,” Eid Kabalu, a rebel spokesman, told the Mindanao Examiner.

The MILF signed a truce with the government in 2001, but despite the cease-fire sporadic clashes still continue in some areas in the south. (Mindanao Examiner)