| In a major embarrassment for the Philippine government, the military said Sunday it had warned that suspected militants linked to al-Qaida were planning a prison escape just days before their breakout. The escape by 53 prison inmates Saturday overshadowed President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's claims that the government is making gains in its campaign against terrorists. She had recently met with U.S. officials to address their fears about new terror threats. The military said the escape — led by several members of the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf militant group — was a setback to the country's counterterrorism efforts. Eleven of the escapees from the jail on the southern island of Basilan were later recaptured and eight were killed, provincial jail warden Jumadil Sali said. "I've lost men in capturing some of those who escaped; a lot of efforts were exerted," said Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero. "This will greatly affect the momentum in our fight against terrorism, particularly in Basilan, but this should not deter us from recapturing them." Lucero said the military had warned officials at the Basilan jail that the Abu Sayyaf suspects were planning to escape. Military officials had asked that additional guards be posted at the jail, but it wasn't immediately clear if that had been done. Security forces continued a massive hunt for the escapees, who took two rifles and a shotgun and wounded at least three guards. |