Provincial guard suspended

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- A provincial guard was suspended for 60 days for gross misconduct after he encouraged an inmate to stab another last January 18 using an improvised weapon he himself provided.

Provincial guard Marcelo Lopez was slapped with a preventive suspension based on the order issued by Provincial Legal Officer Geraldine Baniqued.

The January 19 order, signed with the authority of Governor Amado Espino Jr., formally charged Lopez with gross misconduct. It also told Lopez to submit his verified answer within 10 days, adding he had the right to secure legal services of a counsel of his own choice.

Lopez supposedly induced inmate Gilbert Diaz to kill fellow inmate Felipe Quiliope, according to a report submitted to the governor by Provincial Warden Rolando Diaz.

Lopez "convinced, enticed, induced, threatened, intimidated or coerced" Diaz to stab and kill Quiliope.

After offering Lopez P25,000, Diaz stabbed Quiliope several times in different parts of his body, with the use of an improvised weapon/ice pick, which Lopez reportedly provided.

The weapon, measuring nearly a foot long, was immediately confiscated.

The incident took place around 12:40 p.m. of Wednesday, January 18, after the victim arrived from a court hearing in Dagupan City. (Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre/Sunnex)