By Joel M. Sy Egco

A riot between two gangs erupted inside the Quezon City Jail early evening Saturday, amid talk of loose management of the facility including special accommodations for well-heeled inmates.

Supt. Ferdinand Ampil, Station 10 chief, said timely action by the crowd control squad prevented the free-for-all from spreading to other cells although his men were barred initially from entering the premises.

“The investigators I sent complained to me that they were kept outside the jail and were not allowed to immediately come in,” Ampil said.

Only injuries were reported and pieces of improvised weapons were confiscated.

Observers would not confirm if the latest incident involving the jail facility could mean the neck of key officials.

Supt. Nestor Velasquez, jail warden, has been criticized previously for giving VIP treatment to Chinese drug suspects and other moneyed inmates.

An official report form the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology said members of the Batang City Jail and Sigue-Sigue Commando involved in the clash would be subjected to disciplinary measures.

Jail guards forced to lock the detention facility while mopping-up operations were in progress.

BJMP-Metro Manila reported to Jail Chief Rosendo Dial that one inmate, BCJ member Roleto Rom, was accidentally hit by a basketball during a game.

When no apology was given, Ron’s colleagues massed and rushed to the rival Commando sector, when pandemonium broke out.

Dial ordered a red alert and an augmentation from the regional office along with the Special Tactics and Response Team under Chief Supt. Serafin Barretto.