KIDAPAWAN CITY (Updated) -- Heavily armed men raided the North Cotabato District Jail in Barangay Amas around 1:15 a.m. Wednesday, January 4, allowing over 100 inmates to escape.
In a statement posted on its official Twitter account, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said more than 100 armed men attacked the jail.
Provincial Jail Warden Superintendent Peter Bongat said that a jail officer was killed, while an inmate was injured during the exchange of gunfire.
BJMP identified the fatality as Jail Officer 1 Excell Ray Vicedo.
Vicedo died during the firefight that lasted for about two hours.
One of the inmates, Salik Capalla, told reporters that a series of gunshots were heard after the lights went out around 12:30 a.m.
Superintendent Leo Ajero, Kidapawan City police director, said two of the escapees were re-arrested in Barangay Amas.
Prior to the attack, officials of BJMP sought additional forces from the military and the police after receiving reports of a plan to rescue high-profile inmates believed to be members of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) on New Year's Eve.
The additional forces were pulled out on Tuesday, a day before the attack.
Witnesses said the attackers first unlocked Cell No. 8 where the Salik brothers and Camayo brothers, suspected BIFF members, were detained.
The gunmen also unlocked other cells.
It was the third attack on the provincial jail facility, which has an estimated population of 1,511, since 2007.
BJMP said clearing operations by its Special Tactics and Response Team, Special Action Force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are ongoing. (PNA/With Sunnex)