BY JEFFREY DAMICOG * DHEL NAZARIO
Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the latest riot at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City that reportedly killed at least three prisoners and injured 64 others on Monday.
Aside from the NBI, Guevarra said “the DoJ has ordered the BuCor (Bureau of Corrections) to submit a detailed report ASAP (as soon as possible).”
Citing an initial report from the BuCor on the latest riot, Guevarra said “violence among inmates broke out again at the NBP maximum security compound this morning.”
“Three persons were killed and 64 wounded,” Guevarra said as he cited the BuCor’s initial report. Guevarra assured that “the BuCor security force, PNP SAF (Philippine National Police-Special Action Force), and PNP NCRPO SWAT (National Capital Region Office’s Special Weapons and Tactics) are conducting clearing operations.”
BuCor disclosed that the riot occurred at around 8:39 a.m.
According to BuCor spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag, six Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) were brought to the Ospital ng Muntinlupa.
“Hindi naman critical as reported earlier pero kailangan ng further medical attention na hindi kaya rito,” Chaclag said.
He mentioned that they are still confirming the cause of death of the three prisoners.
Chaclag said that the riot sparked when a member of the Sigue Sigue Commando (SSC) gang who was just sitting was stabbed.
The other groups then retaliated, triggering a free-for-all scuffle.
The BuCor Special Weapons and Tactics (BuCor-SWAT) team responded, but they were met by gunfire. This prompted BuCor to seek assistance from law enforcement partners.
Part of their investigation, according to Chaclag, is to determine how the PDLs got firearms.
He assured the public that other PDLs, as well as other quadrants were not affected by the riot. There were no reported commotions in the penal colonies in the regions, but the BuCor remains on red alert status.
Guevarra previously ordered the NBI to investigate the Oct. 9 riot at the Quadrant 4 of the NBP’s maximum security compound where nine inmates were killed and seven others injured.
The Oct. 9 riot stemmed from a fight between the SSS and SSC gangs.
The BuCor earlier said the Oct. 9 riot happened “because of perceived disrespect to an LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) member of one group.”
