2 convicts escape from Bilibid

MANILA, Philippines - Two convicts serving life terms escaped from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City last Dec. 9.

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director Gaudencio Pangilinan yesterday confirmed the escape from the NBP’s medium security compound but denied that the two were Abu Sayyaf members.

“No Abu Sayyaf escaped. But there were two from medium security,” he said.

The escapees were identified as Roger Taures and Bayen Abbas. The two reportedly cut an escape hole through a makeshift room they shared and then through a perimeter fence of the medium security compound. A bolt cutter was found near a concrete wall.

Abbas, 45, of Maharlika Village in Taguig, is serving a life sentence for kidnapping for ransom. Taures, 48, of Iloilo City, was convicted of serious illegal detention.

Pangilinan said all high-profile convicts, including the Abu Sayyaf, are all secured at the NBP’s maximum security compound.