Different versions of how the Bilibid stabbing incident transpired left authorities unsure about the possible motive for the bloody brawl that left one high-profile inmate dead.
Four other inmates, including controversial drug lord and alleged De Lima bagman, Jaybee Sebastian, were injuring during the riot at the New Bilibid Prison's (NBP) building 14 on Wednesday.
"Inmates Peter Co, Jaybee Sebastian, and Clarence Dongail gave different statements, but the testimonies of Co and Sebastian seem to match," Justice Undersecretary Reynante Orceo said.
Dongail's Version
Dongail claimed he called out three Chinese inmates Vicente Sy, Peter Co and Tony Co after another prisoner saw them engaging in a pot session in Tony Co's detention cell, NBP spokeperson Sonny Del Rosario said.
Dongail told prison officials that he went out of the cell, but was later on followed by Co to the mess hall where he was alleged assaulted, said Del Rosario.
A former police officer convicted for murder, Dongail sustained minor wounds on his lower extremities.
Peter Co's Version
Convicted drug lord Peter Co has a different story. He told authorities that Dongail invited him to talk.
"He said he didn't want to meet Dongail alone so he came with Sy," prison guard Dennis Alfonso, who was part of the NBP's internal investigating team, said.
Co said he was attacked by Dongail and another unidentified Filipino inmate the moment they entered Tony Co's cell.
He added that Dongail also stabbed the two other Chinese inmates. Tony Co eventually died from the attack.
Sebastian's Version
According to Sebastian, while the Chinese inmates were inside Co's cell, he was also being attacked by Tomas Dolina, an inmate who was former member of the Navy.
"Sebastian said he was watching television at the mess hall when he saw Dolina speaking to Dongail," Alfonso narrated.
"Sebastian said, as soon as Dongail went inside Co's cell, Dolina suddenly stabbed him on his right chest," Alfonso added.
While the incident between Sebastian and Dolina ensued, the former claimed that he could hear the Chinese inmates screaming and pleading for mercy.
CCTV Yet to be Reviewed
Though prison officials declined to give any conclusion, investigators mentioned that they did not find any drug paraphernalia from Co's detention cell.
They also showed pictures of the crime scenes where a broken ice pick was recovered from Co's bed. Traces of blood were found near the kitchen and toilet.
Officials said they have yet to review the footage from CCTV cameras in the area.
"At this time, we have no conclusion yet. We have commissioned the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to lead the investigation," Orceo said.
"At this time, it's hard to speculate. Let it be handled by professionals first," Orceo added.
The guilty parties will be charged with either murder or homicide.
Source / Image: ABS-CBN
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