1 dead in riots at Laguna jail

STA. CRUZ, Laguna – Two riots occurred at the provincial jail here yesterday, killing one inmate and wounding several others, one of them seriously, authorities said.

Investigation showed that some 20 inmates were being taken to Dormitory 1 to do some cleaning at about 6:10 a.m. when a riot erupted. After the melee, Valentin Garcia, 36, lay bloodied with multiple stab wounds.

Garcia, a Sigue-Sigue Commando gang member, is in critical condition.

The second riot broke out at 7:35 a.m. at Cell No. 1 when Garcia’s gangmates dragged Abner Zamora, who belonged to rival Sigue-Sigue Sputnik gang, into their cell, nearly triggering a free-for-all between the two gangs.

Zamora, a robbery suspect, died on the spot with multiple stab wounds. — Rene Alviar