Probers eye gang war in Bilibid blast

Investigators are looking at gang war as a possible motive for Thursday morning's grenade blast inside the New Bilibid Prison's maximum security compound that killed an inmate and wounded 19 others.

The explosion involving a fragmentation grenade occurred at the penitentiary's Dorm 5-D, GMA News' Emil Sumangil reported on "24 Oras."

Some inmates were injured so seriously they were brought to a hospital on wheelchairs, the report said.

Most of the casualties were members of the Commando Gang, including the fatality Jojo Fampo. They were wounded by shrapnel.

"Definitely may kabilang pangkat. Titingnan natin yung anggulo na yan," said Superintendent Richard Schwarzkopf Jr.

A National Bureau of Investigation team went to the NBP to examine the fragments and safety lever recovered from the scene.



Gang war angle

A GMA News source said former members of the Sputnik Gang recruited by the Batang City Jail may have hurled the grenade.

It may be recalled that after a raid of the NBP last Dec. 15, Bureau of Corrections director Franklin Bucayu noted tension between the BCJ under Herbert Colangco and the Commando group under JB Sebastian.

At least two people with access to the dormitory building controlled by the Commando and BCJ said Sebastian may have been the target of the blast.

They also indicated the groups were trying to flex their muscles and objecting to tighter security at the maximum security compound.

Palace vows justice

In Malacañang, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., who described the incident as a “serious matter,” vowed that the people behind the blast will be held liable.
 
“Seryosong bagay ito at lahat ng anggulo hinggil dito ay pinasisiyasat ni [Justice Secretary] Leila de Lima,” Coloma said in a press briefing. “Titiyakin na ‘yung mga dapat managot ay mananagot hinggil dito.” 

The explosion occurred after a series of raids and inspections in the NBP yielded contraband items as well as luxurious amenities for some of the inmates, most of them drug convicts.
 
Such discoveries had prompted the reorganization of the national penitentiary's top officers. —Joel Locsin/KBK/JDS, GMA News