Liquor triggers fights in Caloocan City Jail

"Paanong nag-iinuman ang mga preso sa Caloocan City Jail? Paano nakakapasok ang alak doon? (How can inmates at the Caloocan City Jail have drinking sprees? How is liquor brought in?)"

This were the questions posed by a female caller yesterday morning before the Camanava Press Corps following a near-riot in the Caloocan City Jail.

The caller, who was present when the incident happened, reported that a former lawman detained for drug pushing was injured after a fellow detainee, allegedly high on alcohol, attacked him during an alleged near-riot inside the Caloocan City Jail.

Ex-policeman Ernesto Andalan, Jr, 40, detained in April for drug trafficking, was considering the filing of charges of physical injuries against one "Ogie", a selda mayor, for allegedly hitting him with a blunt object in the back.

Detained for a similar offense last year, "Ogie" was ordered detained in a separate cell (bartolina) by jail warden Chief Inspector Teofilo Labating and will not be allowed to see visitors.

Labating downplayed the incident, saying there was no near-riot as alleged by the source but an ordinary heated altercation between inmates. He said he does not know how liquor found its way in, but is conducting an investigation on the incident. He promised that persons responsible will be dealt with accordingly.

The source said the incident occurred at around 2:30 p.m. Thursday, as she was visiting an inmate-relative.

She said the saw Ogie and three other inmates allegedly drinking liquor and wondered how come the inmates were freely drinking liquor inside the jail when it is supposed to be prohibited. She said she knew Ogie as allegedly "nagsu-supply ng drugs sa loob."

The source said further that Andalan, who she said was stabbed three times in the back by Ogie, had just awakened from an afternoon siesta and was having a cup of coffee when he sat near Ogie’s group. Earlier, Ogie had reportedly "ordered" other inmates allegedly "to keep off" the place as they drank.

"Ayaw ni Ogie na may mga tao sa paligid niya (except his drinking buddies)," the source continued her narration.

Ogie allegedly called the attention of Andalan, who was unaware of Ogie’s order, but Andalan ignored him.

"Don’t you know that I am ordering everybody not to mess with me here?" Ogie reportedly confronted Andalan, talking in Pilipino.

"Ah, yes," Andalan replied and turned on his heel. At this point, Ogie reportedly hit Andalan in the back.

Labating said it was only Ogie and Andalan who were involved in the fight.

Sources earlier reported that a Bernard Diaz alias "Ogie" was a drug courier in the city jail. Prison authorities however could not confirm whether this Ogie is the same person involved in the alleged stabbing incident.

The mismanagement of the city jail was first exposed this year when tales of illegal drug trafficking and abuse by inmates, spiriting in of prohibited liquor and alleged sex-for-hire activities inside the jail, in connivance with jail officials, were reported in the media.

Labating vehemently denied the charges and immediately conducted his own investigation, which city officials, including a number of city councilors, branded as "self-serving."

An inquiry by the city council was made "in aid of legislation" without intending to impose any penalties or fines.