(UPDATED) High-profile convict Tony Co is killed in a stabbing incident that led to a 'riot' at the national state penitentiary, says Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – At least one high-profile inmate at the New Bilibid Prison died Wednesday, September 28, after a “riot” erupted between inmates earlier in the morning.
In radio and television interviews, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II confirmed that a certain Tony Co, an inmate at Bilibid, died after the riot at Building 14.
Other high-profile inmates – Peter Co, Vicente Sy, Jaybee Sebastian – and retired police Chief Inspector Clarence Dongail were also injured, according to Aguirre.
Co, Sy, and Sebastian were taken to the Medical Center Muntinlupa. The Dongail was also hurt, Aguirre said, but did not want to be brought to a hospital and chose to be treated at the Bilibid.
Co is supposedly 50/50 while Sebastian is “stable,” according to Aguirre.
Citing what he called "sketchy, initial reports," Aguirre said the two Cos and Sy were reportedly using shabu at the cell of Peter Co. An inmate, Edgar Cinco, saw them, and reported them Dongail.
Dongail reportedly called out the group for using illegal drugs, and then went to the cell of Sebastian. Tony Co supposedly ran after Dongail and attempted to attack him.
"There was a riot," Aguirre said, adding that an "icepick" was used.
In the end, Tony Co was killed. Sy, Peter Co, and Sebastian were also hurt enough to require hospitalization, said the justice secretary.
Dongail, who was the reported subject of the attack and was supposed to have been stabbed as well, according to Aguirre, was not included in the list of injured in the official statement released by Justice Undersecretary Ericcson Balmes.
Aguirre: Sebastian should live
Asked how shabu could still exist in the Bilibid, when it was already being guarded by the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force troopers, Aguirre said the problem could not be completely wiped out at once.
Responding to questions, Aguirre said Peter and Tony Co, and Sy, are serving time for drug-related offenses. "They are considered among the biggest drug traders in the country," he said.
Asked if he planned to go to Bilibid following the incident, Aguirre said he had no time as he was part of the presidential delegation to Vietnam, where President Rodrigo Duterte will have a working starting. They were due to leave early Wednesday afternoon.
Then he said, "Ang masasabi ko lang ito ay hindi maganda sa gobyerno na mamatay si Jaybee Sebastian dahil 'yan ang talagang inaasahan namin na siya ang magspill ng beans, diretso 'yan kay Secretary De Lima eh. So ayaw naming mamatay 'yan, gusto naming buhay siya."
(What I can only say is that it's not good for the government if Jaybee Sebastian dies because we're really counting on him to spill the beans, he goes direct to Secretary De Lima. So we don't want him dead, we want him alive.)
He said Sebastian has not agreed to give full testimony at the House inquiry into the drug trade at the Bilibid when De Lima was justice secretary. Aguirre said Sebastian has not been subpoenaed to appear before the House committee on justice.
All inmates were detained at the Building 14 inside the NBP, which houses "high-profile" inmates, including those alleged to have continued drug operations inside prison.
Co is among the detainees President Rodrigo Duterte accused of still being a drug lord in incarceration. Co is a convicted drug lord.
Sebastian is supposedly one of the most influential gang leaders in Bilibid. He has also been accused of helping Senator Leila de Lima, then justice secretary, raise campaign funds within the prison through illegal drugs, which De Lima had denied. Sebastian is serving time for carnapping.
De Lima had said that Sebastian was a government asset.
Dongail is one of 3 former police officers sentenced to 3 life terms – 120 years– each – in 2011 for the murder and kidnapping of a former barangay captain and two martime instructors in Bacolod City in 2003.
SOURCE: RAPPLER
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