Another possible riot has been averted from taking place at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa CIty over the weekend, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra revealed on Monday, Oct. 12.

“The situation was still tense as of yesterday,” the secretary admitted.
“There were intelligence reports that one group was amassing to strike back at the rival group,” he disclosed.
Fortunately, the secretary said “the prison authorities, with the assistance of the police, have so far contained the violence.”
“I’m waiting for an update from the BuCor (Bureau of Corrections) today,” he said.
At around 1 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, a riot erupted inside Quadrant 4 of the Maximum Security Compound of the NBP but was quelled at around 3:30 a.m.
The incident resulted in the deaths of nine persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and seven other inmates getting hurt.
The BuCor said the riot stemmed from a fight between the Sigue Sigue Sputnik (SSS) and Sigue Sigue Commando (SSC) gangs.
Following the incident, Guevarra ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last Friday “to conduct an investigation on the tumultous affray” and “if evidence warrants, to file the appropriate charges against all persons involved and found responsible for any unlawful act in connection therewith.”
Guevarra also issued a memorandum to BuCor Dir. Gen. Gerald Bantag on Friday to “take all the appropriate measures to prevent a repetition of similar violent incidents.”
This includes the suspension of “all privileges of PDLs confined at the Maximum Security Compound” and “to conduct an extensive search of the Maximum Security Compound and confiscate any and all weapons and other contraband items that may be found therein.”
Bantag was also directed “to cause the immediate relief and preventive suspension of the responsible BuCor officials and personnel who appear to be administratively liable for their negligence, pending investigation.”
The secretary also directed Bantag “to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident, identify all PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) who participated in the tumultuous affray, and cause the institution of the corresponding criminal complaints, if warranted.”