Secure Abuyog Penal Colony, look for missing inmates – De Lima

Published October 9, 2015 1:54pm

(Updated 2 p.m.) Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has ordered jail officials to secure the Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog, Leyte, where at least four inmates died in a fire on Thursday.

In a statement on Friday, De Lima said she was closely monitoring the incident at the maximum security compound of the prison facility, and has been getting regular updates from Bureau of Corrections director general Ricardo Rainier Cruz III.

De Lima said around 1,000 inmates have been affected by the fire

A GMA News TV Live report said four bodies have been recovered while eight inmates were reported to be missing.

"Among my instructions is fully secure the area, attend to the needs of the affected inmates (like) food, clothing, temporary shelter, other emergency needs, like flashlights, medicines, etc," De Lima said.

De Lima said she has also instructed jail official to search for any missing inmates.

According to the BuCor, the Leyte Regional Prison, situated in Abuyog, Southern Leyte, was established a year after the declaration of martial law in 1972 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 28.

The LRP admits convicted offenders from Region VI and from the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa. — Mark Merueñas/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: abuyogpenalcolony, leyteregionalprison