Inmate killed at Bilibid; gang war feared

An official of the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) expressed fear that the death of an inmate affiliated with the Sputnik Gang yesterday morning could spark a gang war or even riots involving gang members doing time inside the national penitentiary.

NBP Superintendent Francisco Abunales confirmed the death of Andres Infante, 38, who had been convicted of piracy. He died from multiple stab wounds, including one in his spinal column.

Abunales identified his assailant as Eduardo Pilapil, 41. He was originally affiliated with the Sputnik Gang but transferred to the Batang City Jail (BCJ).

Initial investigation showed that at around 10:45 a.m., the victim and suspect were sitting on the same bench when they got into a heated argument. Security marshals then saw Pilapil running after Infante, who stumbled and fell to the ground. The suspect allegedly pulled out an improvised weapon and stabbed Infante in various parts of the body.

Infante was pronounced dead on arrival at the NBP Hospital and would be taken to the National Bureau of Investigation for autopsy.

"As for Pilapil, we will place him in a disciplinary cell to secure him because Sputnik members and their affiliates might attempt to harm him."

As a result of yesterday’s incident, Abunales ordered a temporary suspension of all the inmates’ visitation privileges. Security personnel even prevented visitors from delivering lunch to inmates.

The prison guards were ordered to padlock all brigades, preventing the inmates from leaving their dormitories.

To prevent a possible gang war, Abunales met with the leaders of the various gangs occupying the 14 dormitories of the maximum security compound yesterday afternoon.

"We need to impress on them that the NBP will settle this matter and they should not do anything harsh. If they participate in a riot, they will be punished accordingly," he added.

Abunales admitted that despite the threats of sanctions, warring factions could still go after each other because they treat members of their gang as family members.

At the NBP, the Sputnik has as affiliate gangs like Commando, Bahala na Gang and Happy Go while the BCJ has Batang Samar-Leyte, Batang Mindanao, Batang Cebu, Batang Masbate, Batang Manalo and Genuine Ilocano.

This is the second time this year that an inmate died from unnatural causes inside the compound. Last January, an inmate was killed after he went berserk. But Infante is the first casualty in the three-month stay of former Gen. Dionisio Santiago as director of the Bureau of Corrections.