Manila City Jail warden sacked by BJMP

After only four days in office, the warden of the Manila City Jail was sacked for last Saturday's escape of two inmates that led to the rumble between the fugitives' prison gang and another gang which tried to stop them.

The relief of Jail Superintendent George Talania was ordered by Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim and was carried out by acting Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) director Chief Supt. Arturo Alit.

Tapped to replace Talania was Valenzuela jail warden Chief Inspector Romeo Elisan. An inspection of the jail is scheduled to be conducted at the five-hectare prison compound early today.

A total of 12 inmates were hurt after Batang City Jail members engaged in a fistfight with some Bahala na Gang members, who were trying to call the jail guards' attention to two BCJ members they spotted scaling an unguarded perimeter wall.

Talania assumed the post of MCJ officer-in-charge only last week, replacing Jail Superintendent Mamerto Baroro, who had also been booted out following the escape of a detainee.

The rumble which lasted until late Sunday afternoon, was reportedly triggered by an attempt of the BNG to prevent the escape of rival BCJ members.

However, despite the clash, Rolando Canio and Johndee Dizon, who are charged with illegal gun possession and highway robbery, respectively, managed to escape.

The BJMP has organized a tracking team to pursue the two escapees, the DILG said.

Reports said the first clash injured Juan Acad of the Batang City Jail.

A second clash erupted less than an hour after the first but was immediately stopped by MCJ guards and those from other metro jails.

Another fight between the rival gangs erupted at 1:35 p.m. last Sunday causing injuries to more inmates.

Recovered later from the grounds of the five-hectare prison compound were 10 improvised dart slings, two improvised knives and two icepicks.

Lim ordered the BJMP to conduct a thorough probe. The DILG is also mulling the filing of administrative charges against MCJ officials.

Lim likewise expressed surprise as to why Talania failed to prevent the rumble from occurring two more times in the same day.

To prevent similar bloody jail clashes in the future, Lim proposed the transfer of some inmates from the MCJ to other penal facilities.