1 killed, 4 hurt in Bilibid brawl

MANILA, Philippines - An inmate died while four others were injured after a brawl allegedly involving two gangs erupted at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City Tuesday night.

Killed was Sonny Sarsuelo, 48, who was serving time for murder. Wounded were Richard Lomibao, Jonh Escobar, Ramil Joseph and Rolando Mallari. They were taken to the NBP Hospital for treatment.

NBP chief Superintendent Venancio Tesoro said the brawl occurred at around 11:30 p.m. inside Building 3 of the Maximum Security Compound.

Tesoro said members of the Sputnik and Happy Go Lucky gangs tried to pacify two inmates who quarreled over the coin game “cara y cruz.”

At the height of the argument, one of the inmates took a knife and stabbed Sarsuelo, triggering a fight among inmates.

Tesoro said the wounded inmates were hit by fragments of an improvised shotgun fired by one of the inmates.

“There was no riot. It was a fight between two inmates that their gangs were trying to pacify,” Tesoro told The STAR.

The commotion lasted until 2 a.m. yesterday.

Authorities confiscated seven bladed weapons and the improvised shotgun.

Officials have yet to determine how the shotgun found its way into the prison facility.

Tesoro said visitation privileges have been suspended following the incident.

He said around 2,000 Sputnik gang members and 1,000 Happy Go Lucky members are detained at the NBP.

The NBP houses over 22,000 inmates and 13,213 of them are inside the Maximum Security Compound.