Guevarra orders NBI to conduct deeper probe into Bilibid riot

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra. (File photo by Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the Friday riot inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) that resulted in the death of nine inmates.

Guevarra issued the order after the report submitted to him by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) appeared to be “rather raw.”

“The BuCor has submitted a rather raw report on the violent incident early this morning at the NBP,” Guevarra said.

BuCor, which runs seven penal institutions located in various parts of the country is an attached agency of the Department of Justice.

In a Department Order addressed to NBI Officer-in-Charge Eric Distor issued Friday evening, Guevarra told Distor to “conduct an investigation on the reported tumultuous affray, which resulted in the death of at least nine  PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) that transpired in Quadrant 4 of the NBP-East.”

Guevarra said if evidence warrants, the NBI should file the appropriate charges against all persons involved.

He required the NBI to submit an initial report to his office within 10 days.

JPV