2 Bilibid inmates die in knife duel

MANILA, Philippines - Two men serving life terms at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) died following a knife fight Monday afternoon, an official said yesterday.

Enrique Maglasang was serving time for robbery with homicide while Arestide Lucero was convicted for murder, according to NBP deputy director for operation Superintendent Celso Bravo.

The two men were reported to be members of the “Batang Cebu” gang in the prison’s maximum security compound.  

Bravo said knife duel happened at around 1:30 p.m. Monday when Lucero, brandishing an improvised ice pick, went wild in the prison dormitory he shared with Maglasang and other inmates.

Lucero reportedly attacked and wounded Maglasang, who was able to draw an improvised knife and fight back.

Bravo said both convicts sustained several knife wounds in the body and were declared dead on arrival at the NBP Hospital.

He said a grudge caused the fight and it was “an isolated incident.”