Two cops slain, five inmates escape

Two cops slain, five inmates escape

COTABATO, Philippines (AFP): Two policemen were killed and another was injured when a grenade was thrown at a jail in the nearby town of Makilala, allowing five prisoners to escape, police said here yesterday.

An soldier who had a relative imprisoned in the jail for illegal possession of firearms, is suspected of being behind the blast which occurred late Monday, Superintendent Julius Obilla, the provincial police chief, said.

Obilla said the suspect, whom he declined to identify, was being hunted by police. He did not say if the soldier's relative was among the five inmates who escaped.