KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/19 March) – Police in Kabacan, North Cotabato arrested over the weekend a fugitive from the North Cotabato Provincial Rehabilitation Center here.
Supt. Joseph Semillano, chief of the Kabacan police, identified the escapee as Bhuto Kaumbo, a resident of Barangay Tunggol, Pagalungan, Maguindanao, who is facing drug charges.
Kaumbo, according to reports, escaped from the provincial jail, along with more than 40 others, when armed elements attacked the facility last February 2007.
Kaumbo reportedly joined the escape of three suspected bombers who are facing murder, carnapping, and kidnapping charges identified as Tokan Guindo, Kair Mundus and Sultan Datu Ali, and a certain Hassan Muhammad Nur, believed to be one of the drug lords operating in South and Central Mindanao.
Kaumbo and other fugitives have reportedly sought refuge at the vast Liguasan Marsh, which authorities said has been a sanctuary of terrorists and other lawless armed groups.
Years later, however, some of the fugitives returned to their homes, the reports added.
Semillano said that when he was given a tip from a reliable source that Kaumbo was spotted in his farm at Barangay Magatos in Kabacan town, he immediately sent a team led by Insp. Jubernadin Panes to arrest the fugitive.
“So we planned to get him by establishing his routines. We grabbed him while he was on his way to his farm in Barangay Magatos last Saturday,” said Semillano.
Kaumbo is now placed under the custody of Kabacan PNP.
Semillano said they are already preparing the transfer of Kaumbo to the provincial jail anytime this week. (Malu Cadeliña Manar / MindaNews)