Jailhouse gang stages riot over leaders' transfer

MANILA, Philippines - Members of a jailhouse gang at the Quezon City Jail staged a riot yesterday after the QCJ warden ordered the transfer of 20 of the gang’s leaders following the discovery of a stash of bladed weapons.

The members of the Sigue Sigue Sputnik gang opposed the move of Superintendent Joseph Vela, who said the transfer of 20 “influential” detainees had the blessing of higher jail authorities.

Vela had ordered a “cell shakedown” and found bladed weapons hidden underneath a thin layer of cement on the floor.

“This administration is serious in its effort to flush out contrabands inside the jail,” Vela said in an interview.

The jail warden said the hiding of bladed weapons was a “grave offense” and transferring the detainees to “more secure” place like Camp Bagong Diwa was a better option.

After about an hour of negotiation, the tension subsided and the inmates agreed to just select a new set of officers.

Just last week, a detainee was killed when a fellow inmate hit him with a plank of wood after the victim attempted to stab the suspect with a bladed weapon.