SQUATTERS living beside the Manila City Jail in Santa Cruz, Manila, allegedly tossed pieces of metals, stones and other materials over the wall of the detention center, enabling inmates to fashion weapons that were used during a riot that saw the death of one inmate.

Supt. Hernan Grande, acting jail warden, said on Monday that a show- down inspection conducted after the riot that happened during the weekend yielded about 100 improvised weapons.

“As part of the procedure, we have been conducting cell rounds and inspections to make sure that the inmates do not have weapons,” Grande said.

In an operation dubbed “Greyhound,” Bureau of Jail Management and Penology personnel recovered almost 100 pieces of sling shots, bladed weapons and sumpak (homemade shotguns) in the detention center.

Grande said squatters living beside the jail might have lobbed the materials that were eventually fashioned into weapons. “But, of course, we can’t disregard the possibility that we might have had security lapses, as well.”

Supt. Emilio Culang, jail warden when the riot broke out, was immediately replaced by Grande.

In the riot that erupted at about 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, a 29-year-old inmate identified as Eduardo Mandap Jr. was killed while another inmate, Joey Saklao, 41, was wounded.

Police Officer 2 Joseph Kabigting, Manila Police District homicide investigator, said the commotion was triggered by an old row between the warring groups Sigue-Sigue Commando and the Bahala Na Gang.

Mandap was detained on charges of a robbery-snatching while Saklao is facing drugs charges. Both are members of the SSC group.

Mandap was declared dead on arrival at the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC). He sustained a bullet wound in the nape. Saklao, who sustained gunshot wounds in the abdomen, remains at the hospital.

Kabigting said that prior to the incident, detainee Raymond Isidera rushed to the SSC compound to seek help from their leader Rogelio Santiago as he feared for his life as BNG members were allegedly planning to kill him.

The SSC members then asked the visitors inside the jail at the time to leave. 

The SCC gang members then proceeded near the Chapel and began throwing stones and improvised explosives (pillbox) at the BNG compound.

BNG members retaliated, triggering a clash between two gangs.

The jail guards then responded to pacify both groups and take control of the situation. (TJ Agcaoili)

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SQUATTERS living beside the Manila City Jail in Santa Cruz, Manila, allegedly tossed pieces of metals, stones and other materials over the wall of the detention center, enabling inmates to fashion weapons that were used during a riot that saw the death of one inmate.