Power outage in Camp Bagong Diwa leads to gang war, death of 2 inmates

Two inmates died after a riot broke out inside the Metro Manila District Jail in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on Tuesday night.

A report acting Interior Secretary Catalino Cuy sent to Inquirer said a commotion erupted between the members of two gangs—Bahala Na and Sigue Sigue Sputnik—around 6:30 p.m. inside the jail compound.

When the troops, including members of the PNP’s Special Action Force (SAF) responded, two inmates were already killed in the riot.

The fatalities were identified as Lucky Natividad and Gerald Tolentino, who both belonged to rival gangs while 17 others were injured.

“Initial findings said the cause of altercation was due to the power outage,” the report said.

It was reported earlier that the power outage inside detention facility has been going on for about a week now. Electricity was said to be cut off due to the district jail’s unpaid bill worth millions of pesos.

Authorities said the situation in the Taguig jail is already under control. IDL