Two inmates killed in San Juan jail attack

Using a piece of wood, a mentally ill man jailed for drug possession killed his bunkmate yesterday before he was beaten to death by at least 50 other inmates at the San Juan municipal jail.

Two groups of inmates are now pinning the blame on each other for the death of Rafael David, 38, and Dilberto Cruz, 34, both residents of Barangay Corazon de Jesus.

"Bakit ganoon, hinayaan nila na mapatay ang kapatid ko. Alam naman nilang may sakit sa pag-iisip ‘yon," said Marva David, sister of the inmate. She also could not understand why her brother was able to come into possession of a weapon in jail.

David is facing robbery-snatching charges while Cruz was jailed for drug possession.

Three duty jail guards were immediately relieved to pave way to a probe ordered by Senior Superintendent Serafin Baretto, regional director of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-NCR.

Baretto directed Superintendent Rodelio Jocson, chief of the San Juan police, to lead the probe and submit his findings at the soonest possible time.

Chief Inspector Noel Montalvo, head of BJMP in San Juan, said the incident happened inside Cell No. 1 located at the third floor of the police station at 3:20 a.m.

"Bigla na lang nagising si David at inatake ng kanyang sakit at kumuha siya ng dos por dos at ipinalo niya kay Cruz," Montalvo said.

Awakened by the commotion, at least 50 inmates tried to pacify David. When the mentally unstable inmate attacked those trying to pacify him, he was beaten up.

Jail officers Jonathan David, Clarence Dapajo and another identified only as Dusacay immediately responded and tried to control the situation.

Montalvo said the jail officers found it difficult to secure the cell due to the large number of prisoners inside.

David’s sister assailed the jail guards for allowing the incident to happen.

"Bakit hinayaan nilang kuyugin ang kapatid ko," the sister said as she threatened to file criminal charges against the jail officers and the inmates involved.

Montalvo refuted her claims, saying the jail guards followed the standard operating procedure in dealing with the incident.

"Walang kapabayaan dahil ginawa lamang nila ang trabaho nila," he said.

Montalvo claimed the piece of wood inside the cell was being used to pressing garbage in the trash cans.

The jail official also denied they knew that David was mentally ill.

"Hindi namin alam na may tama siya sa pag-iisip. Two months pa lang siyang nakakulong dito at normal naman ang ugali niya," he said.