Interior secretary says no shoot to kill order for remaining inmates unless they resist

January 6, 2017

Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno said Friday there is no shoot to kill order for the remaining inmates following a jailbreak in North Cotabato on Wednesday.

Sueno, speaking over a local radio station in Kidapwan City, said: “There’s no shoot to kill order for them and it’s not also in our policy. But if they fight with our troops, their life might be endangered.”

Superintendent Peter Bonggat, provincial jail warden, said at least six prisoners have been killed while about 53 were recaptured by authorities.

Bonggat also appealed to escapees to  surrender to authorites.  “We are aware that not all of them have planned to escape,” he said.

He said Acting North Cotabato Governor Shirlyn Macasarte-Villanueva directed all mayors  to accept inmates  who will surrender.

In January 4, around 100 gunmen attacked the North Cotabato District Jail before dawn freeing 158 inmates. One jail officer was killed in the nearly two-hour attack. DMS