Philippine Communist Escapes From Jail

MANILA —  A jailed leader of the outlawed Communist Party escaped from a maximum-security stockade by bribing her guards, a military official said Tuesday.

Wilma Tiamzon, wife of party Chairman Benito Tiamzon, escaped Monday during Christmas celebrations inside Camp Crame, the Philippine Constabulary headquarters, in suburban Quezon City, the official said. The escape was discovered Tuesday morning, said Col. Alfredo Filler, chief of staff of the Constabulary.

A press statement said that Tiamzon, who was arrested Oct. 2, “apparently mixed with visitors who were allowed inside the . . . jail and slipped away without being noticed.”