12th jail inmate dies in Manila

Another inmate of the Manila City Jail died, allegedly after complaining of breathing difficulties.

Homicide investigators identified the victim as Leonardo Aranches, 43. Records said the victim was detained at the MCJ for attempted rape.

Police said the victim first complained of shortness of breath last Friday. He was then sent to the jail infirmary but was later transferred to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Sta. Cruz.

Aranches died at about 3:35 a.m. yesterday. Records show that Aranches was the 12th inmate to die of alleged serious illness while under detention.

Last month, Ricrado Lubat, 32, of 1281 Dos Castillas St., Sampaloc, Manila, also died at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center after complaining of chest pains and after blood reportedly oozed from his nose. Lubat who was arrested by the Sampaloc police for alleged rape last Dec. 7, was committed to the MCJ last Jan. 8.

The other inmates who died were also taken to the JRMMC after spending some time in the jail infirmary following complaints of chest and stomach pains.

With a capacity of only 1,000 inmates, the MCJ now houses at least 3,709. Alarmed by the death toll, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza has urged the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, which has supervision over the MCJ to immediately transfer the city jail to its new location at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.

"Their living quarters are cramped, the heat is unbearable during summer and there is flooding during rainy season. This is why diseases spread quickly," Atienza said.

Meanwhile, a billiard spotter was stabbed dead after an argument with a drug addict in front of the Philippine Rabbit bus terminal in Oroquieta Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila, last Friday night.

Homicide probers identified the victim as Ronald August, 27, of 932 Doroteo Jose Street, Sta. Cruz.

According to police, the victim was with his wife Michelle and was allegedly out to buy drugs from a pusher near the bus terminal at about 8:30 p.m. when they met the suspect, a certain Michael. – Mike Frialde