4 Mandaluyong jail inmates dead in 6 days

The Mandaluyong City police are investigating the death of four inmates at the overcrowded Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facilities over the past week.

Mandaluyong City police chief Senior Superintendent Carlos de Sagun said all the victims complained of difficulty in breathing before they died while being rushed to the Mandaluyong City Medical Center.

“We are presently interviewing their fellow inmates to determine the cause of the four inmates’ deaths. We are conducting an intensive investigation on the case,” De Sagun told The STAR in an interview.

De Sagun said Joseph de la Rama, who was facing a drug pushing case, died on Sept. 17; theft suspect Albert Toremocha and rape suspect Arnold Mariano died on Sept. 20; and Erwin Pelosis, who faced a robbery case, died Sept. 22.

Upon receiving reports of the four inmates’ deaths, Mayor Benjamin Abalos Jr. summoned the city’s BJMP chief, apparently to discuss measures to prevent more deaths among the inmates.

The Star learned that the jail facility was constructed to house at least 800 inmates, but more than 1,500 prisoners are currently detained there at the moment.                               – Non Alquitran