Six Abu Sayyaf inmates negative for powder burns

Six Abu Sayyaf inmates who played key roles in the foiled jailbreak attempt last March 15 and survived the police assault at their detention cell at the Metro Manila Detention Jail (MMDJ) in Bicutan, Taguig were found negative for gunpowder burns.

But the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) pointed out that the findings of the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) of the Southern Police District (SPD) would not weaken the multiple and frustrated murder charges they are set to file against Bas Ismael, Monib Asa, Abu Sakay Omar, Said Masshud, Rashmar Jul and Alzen Jandul.

"We have an airtight case against the six Abu Sayyaf survivors," said Senior Superintendent Federico Laciste Jr., head of the CIDG National Capital Region (NCR).

Laciste said they have witnesses claiming that Ismael played key a role on the first day of the jailbreak try while the others took part on the second day, which triggered an assault on the inmates by the Special Action Force (SAF) troopers.

Twenty-five Abu Sayyaf bandits, three jail guards and a SAF trooper were killed in the two-day mutiny.

Pressed why Ismael and his cohorts tested negative for powder burns in the paraffin tests conducted by the SOCO team, Laciste said that test was conducted three days after the incident.

"They have already washed their hands and have taken a bath several times," Laciste said.

The same SOCO team headed by Superintendent Ma. Cristina Feyra conducted a paraffin test on the slain Abu Sayyaf bandits and found that 10 of the 25 slain rebels were positive for gunpowder nitrates.

Among those who may have fired guns during the SAF assault were Hasbie Daie alias Ka Lando, the group’s spokesman; Alhamser Manatad Limbong alias Kosovo; Nadjmi Sabdula, alias Commander Global, and Ghalib Andang, alias Commander Robot.