2 killed in jail gang war

Two Caloocan City Jail inmates were shot dead by a rival gang last Sunday night in what police believe was a vendetta killing.

Rizalino Pangilinan, 44, and Raymund Custodio, 30, both members of the Sigue-Sigue Sputnik gang, were shot by Commando gang member Bonifacio Bote, 24, with a caliber .22 revolver at a sari-sari store inside the jail compound at around 8 p.m., according to Chief Superintendent Pedro Tango, Northern Police District chief.

The killings led to the relief of jail warden Superintendent Mamerto Delloro.

Pangilinan suffered three gunshot wounds while Custodio died from a gunshot wound in the temple.

Earlier that day, at around 5 p.m., two unidentified Sputnik members allegedly ganged up on one Commando gangster but the fight was quickly settled, according to Superintendent Michael Vidamo, who was put in charge of the jail after the killing.

Later in the evening, Bote, who was armed with a caliber .22 Arminius revolver, walked up to Pangilinan and Custodio while they were at a sari-sari store inside the compound and fired.

Bote fled to his cell before surrendering himself and his weapon to authorities. It was still unclear how the gun was smuggled in.

Bote has admitted killing the two but has refused to say who gave the order.

Chief Superintendent Clarito Jover, head of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, went to the jail immediately after the shooting and ordered Delloro replaced by Vidamo, a former Malabon jail warden.

Vidamo had ordered Sputnik and Commando gang members separated to prevent a full-blown gang war. Bote was taken out of his cell and detained in the jail infirmary – in plain view of the duty officer and guards at the gate – to prevent a reprisal.

Vidamo said they have requested a court to have the suspect transferred to the Metro Manila District Jail in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City.

“We fear for their lives. We would like to keep them apart. The victims’ group could try to hit back and that we will not allow. This could start a never-ending vendetta killing,” Vidamo told The STAR. – With Pete Laude