THREE inmates were killed while 14 others were injured in a riot at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City on Sunday night.
Bureau of Corrections spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag said the free-for-all started at around 6 p.m.
“Violence started from verbal heckling with adjacent dormitories at the East Quadrant until a gunshot was heard and started (an) exchange of gunshots from improvised firearms,” Chaclag said yesterday.
The East Quadrant is located at the NBP’s maximum security compound.
“Fourteen PDLs (Persons Deprived of Liberty) injured and three killed by bullets from improvised firearms,” he added.
He said BuCor guards were able to immediately break the fight but added it took nearly an hour before everything was placed under control.
“At 7:10 p.m., the BuCor Quick Response Team secured the incident area and situation under control at that time. Clearing operations ensued until 12 midnight,” Chaclag added.
During the clearing operations, jail guards recovered one 22 caliber pistol with nine bullets, an improvised caliber .45 pistol and two improvised 12-gauge pipe guns or “sumpak,” along with 16 bladed weapons.
Inmates later surrendered two more 12-gauge pipe guns with two bullets and an improvised pistol that can be loaded with shotgun pellets.
Chaclag said seven inmates believed to have played major parts in the violence were identified and taken away to an isolation area while investigations are ongoing.
“Appropriate disciplinary measures will be applied to them. In-depth investigation is being done and it is expected more participants in the violence will be identified,” he said.
In June last year, an inmate was also killed in another riot at the national penitentiary.
Another free-for-all in November 2020 resulted in the deaths of four Bilibid inmates, including high-value drug trafficker Calvin De Jesus Tan, who was sentenced to life in prison in 2012 for operating a shabu laboratory in Cebu.
A month before that, a clash between rival gangs left nine inmates killed.
After those incidents, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra directed the BuCor to take appropriate measures to prevent a repeat.
