Security was further tightened at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facilities, such as the Marikina City Jail, as a precaution not to follow up on the hostage-taking incident of its staff Thursday afternoon.
According to BJMP spokesperson Jail Insp. Xavier Solda, they raised red alert status in BJMP jails in the National Capital Region.
The staff from the BJMP regional office also added the guards now at the Marikina City Jail.
A male jail officer died of stomach injuries during a shootout with 2 inmates who tried to escape.
According to Marikina City Police chief Col. Benliner Capili, the inmates snatched the jail officer’s service pistol in the city jail on the 4th floor of the Marikina Justice Hall before 5:30 p.m.
The BJMP said the gun was in the bag of the jail personnel.
They held 2 female nurses and a livelihood officer in the jail.
Two inmates were killed when SWAT of the Marikina Police responded outside the building.
A hostage was wounded in the foot and is at Amang Rodriguez Medical Center.
“Habang nandoon kami ay nagkaroon ng successive shots,” said Capili.
BJMP jails in NCR on red alert following hostage-taking at Marikina City Jail
“More or less 14 rounds ang naiputok ng hostage taker natin at noong nakita namin na lumabas na, nakatakbo palabas ang hostages nakita namin na duguan including ang jail officer na tinamaan sa abdomen, that’s the time na nag-decide kami na i-assault ang room.”
Solda added: “Di natin pwedeng i-set aside ang possibilities na magkaroon tayo ng ganitong klaseng insidente. That’s why we keep on reminding our personnel na mas maging vigilant sila, maging cautious sila lalo na ngayon ang sistema natin ay temporarily suspended ang contact visitation. So mga PDL natin madali silang ma-agitate, yong iba sa kanila due to boredom, walang bisita.”
According to Solda, they are continuing to investigate how the jail officer’s gun was stolen.
He stressed that the security protocols in the city jail are stringent.
Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro is also awaiting the result of the police investigation.
There will be debriefing for jail personnel and dialogue with inmates.
The BJMP considers the Marikina City Jail to be peaceful.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.