Senior Superintendent Ronaldo Ylagan, Quezon Provincial Police chief, told INQUIRER.net over the phone that as of posting time, the police are still accounting for the deaths and casualties in the said riot.
The casualties were brought to Quezon Medical Center. Ylagan said no jail officer was hurt in the riot.
“The investigation and clearing operations in the area are still ongoing,” he added.
According to Superintendent Allen Rae Co, Lucena police chief, a group of inmates were protesting the transfer of another prisoner when the riot erupted around 10 a.m.
“The protest turned violent when the prisoners, armed with bladed weapons and improvised tools, allegedly attacked the jail guards,” Co said over the phone while inside the jail premises leading the investigation.
Co said the guards were forced to retaliate and fire their service firearms, hitting several protesting prisoners.
In a phone interview with INQUIRER.net, Co added that the inmate who incited the riot prevented his fellow prisoners to go out of the cell to join the Iglesia Ni Cristo worship service inside the jail premises.
“The troublemaker threatened his fellow inmates that once they try to leave the cell to join the worship, something will happen to them,” he added.
Volleys of gunfire were heard from inside the jail that sent some employees in nearby government offices ducking for cover.
Shots were heard from inside the jail, sending employees in nearby government offices ducking for cover.
Family members of some inmates told newsmen that when they were inside visiting their loved ones, a commotion suddenly broke out followed by gunfire.
“I was ordered by my husband to run outside the jail compound for safety,” a woman in her 40s said, crying.
Police said an improvised shotgun (sumpak) and caliber .22 pistols allegedly used by the inmates were recovered at the scene.
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