Approximately 1,000 employees of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa have been dismissed from their duties due to a gang battle that took place within the state prison and resulted in the death of one prisoner and the injury of nine others.
According to NBP deputy director Angelina Bautista, the employees were sacked for allegedly “conniving” with prisoners. The camp’s commander and the officers who were on duty when the fight started were among those who were relieved.
“Ngayon po nadagdagan natin ang mga personnel na magbabantay sa maximum [security] compound,” Bautista said.
The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) had stated that the incident was caused by a fight between two members of the Bahala Na Gang and Batang City Jail, which was subsequently settled before they parted ways. However, one of the detainees pulled out a revolver and began shooting, hurting several inmates.
During the uproar, another inmate was fatally stabbed with an ice pick. However, investigators are still investigating if the stabbing was related to the fight.
Bautista said they are still trying to figure out which detainees started shooting.
1,000 Bilibid personnel relieved of posts after gang fight
After the struggle, a.45 caliber handgun with 12 rounds of ammo was seized, but Bautista said they have yet to find out if the gun was used in the shooting.
She also stated that authorities were investigating how inmates could smuggle firearms into the NBP despite K-9 dogs being stationed at the prison’s gates.
When questioned if the shooting resulted from an inside job, Bautista replied that this was one of several possibilities that investigators were considering.
Meanwhile, BuCor said Thursday that the New Bilibid Prison no longer has a red alert state, but visitors will not be able to go there until further notice.
Yesterday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that the body of the missing prisoner or person deprived of liberty (pdl) at NBP was dismembered and placed in a septic tank.
According to the secretary, the incident is related to the killing allegedly happening in Bilibid even before BuCor chief Director General Gerald Catapang took office.
However, Remulla could not yet say who was the possible mastermind behind the killing.
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