By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A Metro Bacolod District Jail (MBDJ) inmate died in the hospital following violence that erupted from a prison shakedown yesterday morning.
Jail guards identified the fatality only as “Jocjoc.”
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Negros Island Region (BJMP-NIR) director, Jail Senior Superintendent Alberto Balauag, said they conducted Oplan: Galugad, around 4:00 a.m., with members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).
Balauag explained, they conducted the shakedown after receiving reports inmates were still engaging in illegal drugs and illegal gambling despite being detained.
He also stated the prisoners were complaining about the policy that prohibits live-in partners or girlfriends from entering the facility.
In response to the shakedown, violence erupted, prompting guards to use force in order to settle the commotion.
The jail director noted, Jocjoc’s cause of death was said to have resulted from repeated beatings.
Balauag added, Jocjoc’s death is currently being investigated.
Meanwhile, the 38 inmates said to have instigated the incident were later transferred to the Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ)./WDJ