Two inmates were allegedly shot during a protest inside the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology  in Barangay Barretto early morning Wednesday.

BJMP officials could not give any detail regarding the incident, media was also barred from entering the BJMP compound.

www.subictimes.com tried to call BJMP to get details but was denied after a male staff hang the phone after a few questions.

In a text message to www.subictimes.com, Olongapo City Police Office Dir., PSSupt. Orcar Albayalde said that the incident happened around 9:30am.

Media was also barred by staff at the James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital from getting the names of the injured inmates during the shooting incident.

JLGMH staff said that media first had to get clearance from City Hall before they could release the names of the victims.

But a Subic Times e-correspondent identified the injured inmates as Lito Mendoza, 26 and Joselito Abelda, 36.

“Gunshot wound pareho, si Abelda sa dibdib ang tama, si Mendoza sa leeg ang tama pero hindi naman grabe,” the Subic Times e-correspondent said.

The details of the shooting incident are still unclear since BJMP staff and Jail warden remained numbed over the incident.

“May ililipat ata silang inmate mula dito (Olongapo City) papuntang Dinalupihan, pero umalma yung mga preso, nag protesta sila hangang sa nagkagulo at ang balita ko nagsunog pa sila ng mesa at upuan,” Albayalde added.

Residents in the area, and relatives of the inmates who were at the main gate of BJMP explained to SubicTimes that Rene Lagonero the ‘mayor’ (leader) of Sputnik group inside the compound was transferred to Dinalupihan, Bataan by BJMP personnel after he complained that inmates in the compound were being maltreated.

(Marivic Lagonero point to a sign ‘Walang Dalaw Ngayon’ after learning her husband was transferred to Dinalupihan Bataan, Her husbands transfer sparked a protest inside the city jail compound injuring two inmates. Photo by David Bayarong)

A resident ask not to be named said that the inmates composed of the Sputnik and Bahala Na Gang were on protest and held a noise barrage in the compound upon learning that Lagonero was transferred to Dinalupihan municipal jail.

“Malamang napag initan si mayor (Loganero) dahil siya yung nag reklamo sa human rights na hindi maganda ang treatment sa kanila (inmate) kaya siya nilipat at kaya nag protesta sila,” the resident added.

Marivic the wife of  Lagonero told www.subictimes.com that “Pinag-initan nila ang asawa ko kaya siya nililipat, nireklamo kasi ng mga preso na pinagunahan ng asawa ko (Rene Lagonero) ang mga kalokohan ng mga taga BJMP.”

Marivic explained that she was not even given notice that her husband was to be tranfered in Dinaupihan.

“Tinatax ung mga pinapasok nilang groceries at yosi, yung pagkain nila na parang pagkain ng baboy at singil sa overnyt say nila na napaka mahal,” Marivic added.

“Yung alak P60 sa labas pero binebenta nila ng P150 sa loob,” an angry Marivic said.