9 found dead after Bilibid gang riot —BuCor spox

Nine prisoners were found dead following  a riot between two gangs at the New Bilibid Prison early Friday, according to Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) spokesman Gabriel Chaclag.

Chaclag said violence erupted between members of the Sputnik gang and the Commando gang.

Nine inmates were accounted for at the morgue after the "free-for-all scuffle," the BuCor said late Friday afternoon.

The BuCor said that around 6 p.m. Friday, Bilibid was "back to normal operations as of this time and everything is under control."

Casualties

A report from the Southern Police District (SPD), citing information from Chaclag, said seven of the casualties were from the Sputnik gang and two from the Commando gang.

The BuCor said seven inmates were injured and were treated at the NBP Hospital.

"Yung dalawang grupo po nagkainitan, nagkaabutan," he said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV earlier in the day.

Citing Chaclag, the SPD said the incident started at around 2:30 a.m. Friday and was pacified at around 4 a.m. It took place at one quadrant of the national penitentiary's maximum security compound. 

Weapons were recovered, according to Chaclag.

Chaclag earlier said those found to have instigated the fight will be placed in isolation.

In an interview on GMA News TV's Balitanghali, the Bilibid spokesperson said the gang leaders have promised the incident will not happen again.

"Nakausap na po natin 'yung kani-kanilang leaders at nangako po sila na wala na pong gulong mangyayari from here on, at 'yun naman po ay pinanghahawakan natin dahil sila rin po ang kawawa," he said.

Investigation is ongoing to determine what caused the violence, he added.

"Malalim ito considering na hinintay pa mag-madaling araw bago sila nag-aksiyon ng ganito," he said on Dobol B sa News TV.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, meanwhile, said he has asked BuCor chief Gerald Bantag to look into the incident and submit to him a report as soon as possible.

Chaclag said the violence was eventually contained and the situation at the national penitentiary, which he said has a population of 18,000, has returned to normal.

He said the people who will be found to have instigated the fight will face disciplinary action.

"Malalaman din po natin kung ano ang pinag-ugatan at kung ano ang naging pinagmulan," Chaclag said.  —KBK/RSJ, GMA News