Tension continues between two rival gangs because of a power outage at the Metro Manila District Jail in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology chief Director Serafin Barretto said a brief commotion occurred between the Bahala na Gang and Sputnik Gang at around 7 p.m. Friday.
Barretto said the commotion was immediately contained by jail guards and no inmate was hurt since the two warring gangs were housed in two separate dormitories.
The MMDJ has been without power since May 30 because of a broken transformer.
A riot erupted inside the MMDJ last Tuesday because of their dire condition from the power outage. Two inmates were killed – Lucky Natividad, a member of the Bahala na Gang, and Gerald Tolentino, a member of the Sigue-Sigue Sputnik Gang – while 17 others were injured.
Barretto denied reports that inmates at the MMDJ were being forced to produce P1 million to pay for the broken transformer.
He also dismissed and described as “ridiculous” reports that inmates managed to raise P500,000 – half of the amount that jail guards allegedly told them to raise – to pay for the broken transformer.
Barretto said he has asked the Manila Electric Co. to “consider” the situation of inmates at MMDJ as not only the lives of inmates are at stake but also the jail guards. “Nakiusap na ako sa Meralco kasi kapag tumagal pa ‘yan baka hindi lang riot ang mangyari dyan. Baka may tumakas pa ‘di ba?” Barretto said. (Martin A. Sadongdong)
