Prized police catch escapes again
MANILA (Reuters) - The leader of a notorious gang of armed robbers in the Philippines, re-arrested by police after months on the run, escaped again on Friday in a scene straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster.
Eight men with M16 rifles blocked a police van transporting Pedro Rodica to a Manila jail allowing him to break free of his guards.
"I must say that this particular incident is unfortunate," said Avelino Razon, the national police chief.
Rodica, facing multiple charges of armed robbery and murder, was arrested earlier this week and paraded to the press on Thursday as a major accomplishment against organized crime.
He had first escaped from his guards in December when he was being taken to court.
"The Philippine National Police will not let this pass, the long arm of the law will soon catch up with him," Razon said.
(Reporting by Manny Mogato; Editing by Carmel Crimmins)
