10 prisoners dead in Leyte penal colony fire
The Leyte Regional Prison. PHOTO FROM BUCOR
(Updated) Ten inmates were killed in a fire that hit the Maximum Security Compound of Abuyog Penal Colony in Leyte.
Inspector Catalino Landia, chief of the Abuyog, Leyte Police said all missing inmates have been accounted for.
The Abuyog Penal Colony is one of the seven operating units under the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor). Other operating units include the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City, the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro, the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City and the Davao Prison and Penal Farm. BuCor is an attached agency of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
READ: Several feared dead in fire at Leyte penal colony
BuCor Spokesman Fr. Bobby Olaguer said BuCor Assistant Director Martin Perfecto is already in Leyte to see the situation in the area.
All in all, there are a total of 1,256 inmates inside the penal colony.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she is closely monitoring the situation. She said BuCor Director Rainier Cruz has been giving her regular updates.
“Among my instructions [are to] fully secure the area, attend to the needs of the affected inmates (approx. 1,000 inmates),i.e., food, clothing, temporary shelter, other emergency needs, like flashlights, medicines, etc., and search for missing inmates, if any,” de Lima said in a text message.
De Lima said that five of the fatalities were at the psychiatric ward; two inmates were weak, old and suffering from eye problems and two were farm workers who went inside to save fellow inmates and salvage farm equipment.
The fire started around 3:45 p.m. Thursday inside the Maximum Security Area, which housed more than 1,500 inmates.
Those who survived the fire were brought to the medium security building, which is about 700 meters away from the burning building. IDL
Originally posted 11:05 a.m.
