Four corrections officers have been relieved and preventively suspended after the stabbing incident inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City where one person deprived of liberty (PDL) died and two other prisoners wounded.
The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) identified them as C/Insp. Louie Rodelas, acting commander of the guards; Corrections Officers 1 (CO1) Christian Alonzo and Joshua Mondres, both keepers of Building 8; and CO1 Glicerio Cinco Jr., officer of Gate 1 A.
“Our personnel should be alert and vigilant to enhance the safety protocols that govern the custody and management of inmates anytime of the day,” said BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr.
The stabbing incident happened at 7 a.m. last Jan. 2 at Gate 1A of Quadrant 4 of the Bilibid’s Maximum Security Compound.
“This situation indicates a lapse in our operations, resulting in the death of PDL Ricardo Peralta and the wounding of PDLs Reginal Lacuerta and Bert Cupada,” Catapang said.
“It is essential that we hold individuals accountable for these failures," he pointed out.
The BuCor had asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct parallel investigations over the incident.
At the same time, Catapang said he had also asked the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to conduct its own parallel investigation.
The investigations, he said, would establish the facts, promote transparency and determine accountability.