AT least three persons deprived of liberty have been confirmed dead and 14 others seriously injured when a prison riot ensued inside the overcrowded New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City on Sunday night.

As of Monday morning, prison officers have already contained the incident, and the situation inside the national penitentiary is now under control, Bureau of Corrections spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag said in a report to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

According to Chaclag, the fatalities died from gunshot wounds caused by improvised firearms.

Initial investigation showed the violent melee started from verbal heckling among PDLs at the NBP’s East Quadrant.

“A gunshot was heard and started exchange of gunshots from improvised FAs (firearms),” Chaclag said in his report to Guevarra. BuCor is an attached agency of the Department of Justice.

Also, at least 14 PDLs were hurt during incident. They are now undergoing treatment, Chaglag said.

Recovered during clearing operation by prison officers were deadly weapons as follows:

1. One (1) Cal. 22 Revolver with 9 live ammunitions

2. One(1) improvised Cal. 45 pistol with 6 empty shells

3. Two(2) improvised 12 gauge pipe guns

4. Sixteen(16) bladed weapons

Surrendered improvised weapons:

1. Two (2) pieces improvised 12 gauge pipe gun with 2 live ammunition

2. One (1) pistol type that can loaded with 12 gauge shotgun shell

“7 PDLs who were believed to have played major parts in the violence were identified and taken away to an isolation area. Appropriate disciplinary measures will be applied to them. In depth investigation is being done and it is expected more participants in the violence will be identified,” Chaclag said. By HECTOR LAWAS