NBI unravels power struggle among Bilibid gangs, files raps vs 5 in grenade blast

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has recommended the filing of attempted murder charges against five people allegedly responsible for the November 16 grenade explosion inside the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City that left several inmates injured.

 

In its findings, the NBI also unraveled an institutionalized structure of gangs inside the national penitentiary, even as the agency found out that a power struggle among each group's officials was responsible for the grenade blast.

 

In a four-page final report prepared by NBI agent Edgar Digman, the NBI said it has likewise forwarded its findings to the Muntinlupa City Prosecutor's Office for preliminary investigation. The respondents were recommended to be charged with violation of Article 248 in relation to Article 6 of the Revsied Penal Code on attempted murder.

 

Named respondents in the complaint were Henry Villa alias Jeff Bulusok, caught on closed-circuit television camera hurling the grenade; Pablo Añora alias Boyet; Ronaldo Torres; Joseph Mostrales; and Jerry Pepino.

 

The NBI investigation showed the attack was part of a "bid to install Añora as the new leader of the [Batang City Jail], and who shall then gain control over illegal activities in the NBP, including drug running, illegal trade on contraband items and even the kidnapping of inmates' visitors."

 

The Department of Justice, which supervises the NBI, noted that "movements in the leadership of groups in the NBP indeed took place in the wake of the grenade explosion." 

 

These movements included Añora's take over as officer in charge commander of the BCJ group, Torres as OIC commander of the Batang Samar Leyte group, Mostrales as OIC mayor of BCJ, and Pepino as commander of Batman.

 

The NBI said results of the polygraph examination or lie-detector test conducted on several witnesses to the blast "have semblance of truth."

 

The NBI probe showed that an M26 fragmentation grenade was used by Villa, who at the time was wearing an orange prison shirt and blue maong shorts with white towel over his head. 

 

Witnesses Emelito Sitchon and Nino Garing, who were in the area when the blast happened, both saw Villa hurl the grenade at a group of jogging inmates before hurriedly walking away from the scene. Garing later identified Villa from a set of pictures shown to him as the one who lobbed the grenade.

 

Meanwhile, another witness, George dela Peña, said he heard Añora talking with a certain "Torres" through cellphone with the former instructing the latter to get the grenade early that morning. Dela Peña also claimed to having heard two weeks prior to the blast Torres, Mostrales and Pepino planning to explode a grenade at the compound of the Batang City Jail "in order for Pablo Añnora to take over the leadership from Froilan Trestiza."

 

Dela Peña claimed that Villa was a "known loyal servant who serve at the whims and caprices of Torres."

 

Muntinlupa City police chief Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa had earlier said the explosion was caused by a hand grenade and occurred during the inmates' jog at about 5:55 a.m. of November 16, but said they have not determined the motive at the time.

 

The blast led to the relief and placing on floating status of several NBP officials including NBP Superintendent Ramon Reyes as well as the superinendents assigned to the maximum and medium security compounds, Superintendents Roberto Rabo and Dante Cruz respectively, and Gerardo Aro, supervisor of the minimum security compound.

 

NBI deputy director Rafael Ragos was then tapped to assist NBP officer in charge director Manuel Co in running things at the national penitentiary.

 

All relieved NBP superintendents were temporarily replaced by junior officers while the investigation continues. — RSJ, GMA News