FILE PHOTO: New Bilibid Prison. Philippine Daily Inquirer/Grig C. Montegrande
MANILA, Philippines — Four New Bilibid Prison (NBP) personnel have been relieved and preventively suspended while the probe into a stabbing at the facility is ongoing, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said Sunday.
The stabbing last January 2 resulted in the death of person deprived of liberty (PDL) Ricardo Peralta and left two other inmates, Reginal Lacuerta and Bert Cupada, injured.
In a statement, BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said the following personnel were ordered relieved and suspended on Saturday, pending investigation:
- Shift Commander/Acting Commander of the Guards C/INSP Louie Rodelas
- Correction Officer 1 Christian Alonzo, Building 8 Keeper
- Correction Officer 1 Joshua Mondres, Building 8 Keeper
- Correction Officer 1 Glicerio Cinco Jr., Gate 1A Officer
A preventive suspension is not a penalty but a measure to prevent intimidating or influencing the witnesses against those under investigation.
Catapang emphasized that correctional officers should ensure the safety of inmates and prevent violent occurrences in prison.
“This situation indicates a lapse in our operations, resulting in the death of PDL Ricardo Peralta and the wounding of PDLs Reginal Lacuerta and Bert Cupada. It is essential that we hold individuals accountable for these failures,” he added.
READ: PDL killed, 2 others injured in Bilibid stabbing
Catapang earlier requested the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a parallel investigation into the incident.
READ: BuCor taps NBI, PNP to probe Bilibid stabbing