DOJ to hold prison execs liable over latest Bilibid riot

FILE: New Bilibid Prison (Photo By Jovie Naval via Bureau of Corrections/Website)

MANILA – Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he is not discounting the possibility of holding prison officials liable following Monday morning’s incidence of violence between prison gangs inside the New Bilibid Prison Maximum Security Compound in Muntinlupa City.

In a message to newsmen on Monday, Guevarra expressed concern over the latest affray, a repeat of a previous riot involving gang members.

“The BuCor (Bureau of Corrections) Security Force, PNP SAF (Philippine National Police Special Action Force), and PNP NCRPO SWAT (National Capital Region Police Office Special Weapons and Tactics) are conducting clearing operations. The DOJ has ordered the BuCor to submit a detailed report (as soon as possible),” Guevarra said.

The DOJ chief said he will also direct the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a parallel investigation or expand its ongoing probe into the previous violence.

“These BuCor officials should have learned their lesson from the previous violent incident where several PDLs were killed,” Guevarra said, when asked whether the DOJ will look into possible negligence on the part of BuCor officials including Director Gerald Bantag.

Three were confirmed dead while 64 were wounded in the brawl that erupted at around 8:39 a.m. on Monday.

The incident occurred exactly a month after seven members of the Sputnik Gang and two from the Commando Gang were killed in the clash inside the east quadrant of the NBP’s maximum security compound from 2:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. on October 9.