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| FILE – In this April 29, 2016 file photo, presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte answers questions from the media in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine president-elect encouraged the public to help him in his war against crime and urged citizens with guns to shoot and kill drug dealers who would resist arrest and fight back in their neighborhoods. Duterte told a huge crowd celebrating his presidential victory late Saturday, June 4 in the southern city of Davao that Filipinos who would help him in the bloody war against criminality would be rewarded. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File) |
An appointment with the jail warden turned out deadly after the meeting ended in a shootout and a series of explosions on Thursday evening.
Ten high-profile inmates were killed in the explosion inside Paraรฑaque City Jail, namely Jacky Huang, Waren Manampen, Ronald Domdom, Rodel Domdom, Danilo Pineda, Joseph Villasor, Oliver Sarreal, Jeremy Flores, Jonathan Ilas, and Yonghan Cai.
The cases of the eight of the 10 detainees were involve illegal drugs, while two had cases involving robbery with homicide.
Jail warden Supt. Gerald Bantag was also injured.
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Spokesperson Senior Inspector Xavier Solda said on Friday that gunshots and explosions were heard inside the office of Bantag at around 8:20 p.m. Thursday.
According to Solda, the inmates had requested a meeting with the jail warden to follow up a request to be transferred to another cell when shots rang out. There were no other security officers in the said meeting.
Solda said the BJMP is investigating as to how contraband was made available inside the Paraรฑaque City Jail.
“Nais nating ma-establish paano ba talaga nakapasok itong mga kagaya ng granada o ng baril. Kasi kung titingnan natin, napakahigpit ng BJMP pagdating sa pagpasok ng mga kontrabado,” Solda said.
[Translation: We want to establish how the grenades or guns were brought inside. Security is tight before entering BJMP, especially when it comes to contraband.]
The officials of the BJMP are also looking at the possibility that the 10 inmates attempted to escape and hostage Bantag.
Solda dodged questions about the possibility that the detainees were deliberately killed. But BJMP said nine officers, including Bantag, were already relieved from their post to ensure an impartial investigation on the incident.
Members of the BJMP Special Tactics and Response Team are currently manning the Paraรฑaque City Jail.
The Philippine National Police is also carrying out a parallel investigation.
The BJMP said Bantag has yet to give a statement on the incident as he needs to undergo surgery.
As the remaining survivor of the incident, Solda said only the jail warden can shed light on what really took place that fateful night.
