Nine inmates were killed and seven others injured—the latter rushed to hospital—during a riot between two rival gangs inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City early Friday morning, police said.
Initial investigation reports released by the Southern Police District showed the riot broke out inside the NBP’s East Maximum Security Compound in Barangay Poblacion around 1:07 a.m.
In Manila, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra immediately directed Bureau of Corrections Director General Gerald Bantag to investigate the gang-related riot and submit a report to him as soon as possible.
“I have asked DG Bantag to investigate and submit a report to me asap,” Guevarra said in a text message.
BuCor, which operates seven penal institutions around the country including Bilibid is an attached agency of the Department of Justice.
Police Investigator John Amodia said six of the fatalities were members of the Sigue Sigue Sputnik Gang, while two others from its rival gang Sigue Sigue Commando, and the other one from an unidentified group.
He added that eight of the fatalities sustained head and body injuries, including stab wounds, while the death of another man was still to be determined.
Most of the victims were described as persons deprived of liberty (PDL).
The police reports, based on information given by the Bureau of Corrections, stated that “a free-for-all scuffle transpired at about 1:07 a.m. at Quadrant 4 NBP East Maximum Security Compound between Sigue Sigue Sputnik and Sigue Sigue Commando.”
It cited a member of a Commando group saying they were fast asleep outside their dormitories when they heard a commotion.
“Stones were being thrown everywhere hitting some of the PDL who were caught unaware of the situation. Warring gangs tried to hit each other with whatever object that can be held on,” the SPD report stated.
A day prior to the riot, a PDL from the Commando gang was arrested for possession of illegal drugs. The prohibited substance allegedly came from a “jail leader.”
The report also stated that a gay inmate, who was walking on his way to Building 5 of the facility, was bullied by an inmate from opposing group that ignited the fight.
Responding members of the Base Security Command and BuCor – Special Weapons and Tactics pacified the rival gangs and stopped the melee.
The BuCor is now investigating the incident while the Scene of the Crime Operations Team and SWAT Muntinlupa City Police station were alerted in the event the agency needs assistance.