THE Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said Wednesday that the stabbing incidents inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) last September 28 "did not stem from a riot."
Stating their findings before a House committee probe, Superintendent Francisco Ebreo said that based on the statements of the witnesses, CCTV footages, and medical records of the wounded detainees, only two stabbing incidents occured but not a riot.
The CIDG was tapped to conduct an investigation on the said incident, where high-profile inmate Tony Co was killed while other inmates Jaybee Sebastian, Vicente Sy and Peter Co were injured.
Ebreo said the first stabbing incident occurred in the NBP’s mess hall while the other was inside Tony Co’s makeshift room.
He said inmate Clarence Dongail is responsible for the killing of Tony Co and for the injuries obtained by Peter Co and Sy while inmate Tomas Donina may be held liable for the injuries of Sebastian.
Ebreo said inmate Edgar Sinco is also involved in the attack against Sy.
He said Donina admitted to have attempted to kill Sebastian after he was asked by a colleague from the Philippine Navy to prevent him from testifying before a House inquiry.
During the said House probe, the inmates implicated Senator Leila de Lima in their illegal operations, saying they were giving her drug money through her former security aide Ronnie Dayan.
Ebreo said they are yet to establish the motive of the incidents.
The CIDG has yet to file appropriate charges against the inmates responsible for the incident.
“[The] NBP investigation team has jurisdiction over the case since the incidents happened within their premises,” said Ebreo.
Meanwhile, Ebreo said they also found out that illegal drugs still exist inside the NBP based on illegal drugs recovered inside the facility and on the test conducted on several inmates including the slain Tony Co.
The CIDG then recommended the installation of additional CCTV cameras in the penitentiary compound as well as in the inmates' individual cells; metal detectors; and deployment of K9 units in the entrance and exit points of the maximum security compound, particularly in the building 1. (Sunnex)