Guard in foiled jailbreak takes polygraph test

The jail guard suspected to have connived with the Abu Sayyaf Group in their foiled escape try at their detention cell in Bicutan, Taguig last March 14 was subjected to a polygraph test.

Chief Superintendent Ricardo Dapat, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), subjected JO1 Kahmir Hussin to a polygraph test for giving conflicting statements regarding the Abu Sayyaf jailbreak.

"He told us he was unarmed when Abu Sayyaf inmates grabbed and locked him in a cell during the early hours of the escape try. But we have witnesses who claimed that he was armed at the time," a CIDG investigator said.

Results of the polygraph test would be out this week.

The CIDG is looking into the possible collusion of jail guards during the foiled jailbreak which turned into a hostage situation last March 15. A subsequent assault left 22 Abu Sayyaf inmates and a cop killed.

The CIDG have five inmates and three jail guards as witnesses who claimed they saw how the Abu Sayyaf inmates mercilessly gunned down the three jail guards and wounded two others in the escape try.

The latest witness to surface was Moises Radoble, 23, who is serving a sentence for robbery with homicide. Radoble was placed inside Abu Sayyaf cell number 28 as punishment for joining a riot inside the Metro Manila Detention Jail complex prior to the escape try.

After killing the jail guards, Radoble said Bas Ismael went back to their detention cell and freed Edcel Tomas Piga from cell number 23.

While dashing out of their jail cells, however, they were met by Kosovo, Ka Lando and other inmates because surviving jail guards and responding elements of the Special Weapons and Tactics engaged them in a shootout.

Ismael survived the assault on their jail but not Piga, Kosovo, Ka Lando and 19 others.

In his report to Dapat, Superintendent Mitch Filart, chief of the CIDG South Sector, said they are building up multiple murder and frustrated murder charges against Ismael and his cohorts who joined the mutiny but survived the assault.

Hussin will be included in the charge sheet if he fails the polygraph test, a CIDG investigator said.

However, it is not only Hussin who is being investigated for collusion but other jail guards as well, especially those seen often mingling with the Abu Sayyaf in their detention cell.

Meanwhile, Ismael was identified as the same Abu Sayyaf bandit who killed two CIDG policemen during a rampage at the Office of the Businessman’s Concern (OBC) two years ago. An Abu Sayyaf member was also killed in the hostage situation.

Ismael, who was accused of kidnapping, was charged with double murder and was whisked to the MMDJ detention center to join other Abu Sayyaf inmates.