4 inmates dead in Caloocan jail riot

MANILA, Philippines — Four detainees died and scores were reportedly injured when a riot erupted between two rival gangs over a coin game at the Caloocan City jail yesterday afternoon.

Arturo Biasa, Hans Omar, Sherwin Perez and John Patrick Chico died at the scene, according to a police report.

Biasa and Omar were said to be members of the Sputnik Gang.  Perez and Chico reportedly belonged to the Commando Gang.

Police said the inmates were either stabbed or hit with hard objects in the head.

At least 30 inmates were injured during the riot, according to Caloocan police chief Col. Samuel Mina.

Mina said members of the two criminal groups were playing cara y cruz at around 3:30 p.m. when a riot broke out.

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology spokesman Xavier Solda said members of the Northern Police District and the BJMP’s Special Tactics and Response Team responded to the incident.

BJMP chief Director Allan Iral immediately ordered an investigation of the incident.

Solda said the Caloocan City jail would remain on heightened alert status.

He said additional jail personnel were deployed to the facility to prevent another riot. – Neil Jayson Servallos