Metro Manila, Philippines – Four personnel of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City were relieved and preventively suspended after a stabbing incident that killed one prisoner, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said on Sunday, Jan. 5.
On Saturday, BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. ordered the relief and preventive suspension of C/INSP Louie Rodelas, Shift Commander/Acting Commander of the Guards; Corrections Officers (CO) 1 Christian Alonzo and Joshua Mondres, Keeper of Building 8; and CO1 Glicerio Cinco Jr, the gate officer of Gate 1 A.
Catapang has also asked the Commission on Human Rights to conduct a parallel investigation into the incident, which also injured two inmates.
In his letter, Catapang requested CHR commissioner Faydah Maniri Dumarpa to “establish the facts, promote transparency, and determine accountability.” The same request was earlier sent to the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police.
Catapang admitted the situation, which occurred on Jan. 2 at NBP’s maximum security camp, “indicates a lapse in our operations.”
“It is essential that we hold individuals accountable for these failures,” he said. “Our personnel should be alert and vigilant to enhance the safety protocols that govern the custody and management of inmates any time of the day.”
