An 84-year-old detainee died while 24 others were hurt after a fire broke out at the Antipolo City Jail in Rizal province on Thursday night.
The fatality was identified as Organo Cesar, a rape suspect.
A police report said he had difficulty breathing and died on the way to a hospital.
Supt. Chitadel Gaoiran, Calabarzon police spokesperson, said the fire broke out in cell number 10 around 8 p.m.
Firefighters prevented the flames from spreading to the other cells. The blaze was put out after about an hour.
Initial investigation showed it was caused by faulty electrical wiring.
Around 30 detainees tried to escape at the height of the commotion caused by the fire, Antipolo police chief, Supt. Villaflor Bannawagan, said in a separate phone interview.
But the police were able to go after them immediately, except for Zymon Dig who was facing two counts of robbery.
He surrendered to authorities the following day.
Bannawagan said the police detention cell, which has 300 prisoners, is housed in the same building as the city jail which has 1,670 inmates.—MARICAR CINCO