Bilibid inmate runs amuck; 2 dead, 2 hurt

MANILA, Philippines - An inmate ran amuck in the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City yesterday, killing two fellow inmates and wounding two others.

A report reaching the Department of Justice (DOJ) identified the fatalities as Arturo Osperana of Bicol Region Masbate (BRM) gang and Ramil Cuasito of Batang Samar at Leyte (BSL) gang.

They died at the NBP hospital after being stabbed by Leo dela Victoria of Batang Cebu gang at the Cavalry Church in Building 11 at around 1 p.m.

The two wounded inmates – Pablito Rabusa of BRM and Felicito Muralla of Cuerna gang – were also brought to the NBP hospital and set to be transferred to another hospital outside the national penitentiary.

DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima said in a text message that Dela Victoria’s motive may be “retaliation (for) a previous incident.”

The maximum security compound, which houses 12,000 convicts, “is padlocked and investigation is ongoing,” a prison officer who requested anonymity said.

Yesterday’s incident is the second violent incident at the NBP in a week. On April 18, a convict was killed after he attacked prison guards who were transferring him to a disciplinary cell.

Inmate Lauro Lumapas Jr. stabbed and wounded two jail guards with an icepick. Another guard shot him. Prison officials are investigating how Lumapas got his hands on the weapon.

According to initial reports, Lumapas was ordered transferred to a disciplinary cell from his dormitory following complaints from fellow inmates. – With Perseus Echeminada