Manila: A Chinese druglord died and three others, including two Chinese nationals, were hurt in a stabbing incident at the national penitentiary in suburban Muntinglupa, an alleged source of illegal drug trade, a senior official said.

Chinese druglord Tony Co died during the stabbing incident between two warring gangs of inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in suburban Muntinglupa at 7.40am, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said on Wednesday.

Those who were hurt were Chinese druglord Peter Co, who remained in a critical condition, Filipino druglord Jayvee Sebastian, and Chinese national Vicente Sy, said Aguirre, adding that Sy is still undergoing treatment at the Ospital ng Muntinlupa while Sebastian was declared in a stable condition at the Medical Centre of Muntinlupa City where he was brought.

The three Chinese druglords were holding a shabu session in the room of Tony Co at NBP’s building 14. before the stabbing incident happened, said Bureau of Corrections acting chief Rolando Asuncion.

Members of the Philippine National Police elite Special Action Force (SAF) have been guarding the NBP in efforts to stop imprisoned druglords from undertaking illegal drug trade while they serve their prison time.

Former police chief inspector Clarence Dongail, an inmate, reprimanded the three Chinese druglords and told them to stop what they were doing, narrated Asuncion. He quoted Asuncion as having told his fellow inmates, “Please don’t do that. All of us will be implicated once the SAF and the Bureau of Corrections learn about this.”

Dongail left the pot session and went to NBP’s common area to watch TV when attacked by (Tony) Co with a bladed weapon. “It resulted in a riot among eight inmates,” said Asuncion, adding that Sebastian (the Filipino druglord) was in the area when Dongail was attacked.

Another inmate, Edgar Singco, told investigators that he had tipped off Dongail about the shabu session of the Chinese druglords, said Asuncion.

Two factions of high-profile inmates at NBP’s building 14 have been established after several inmates and Bureau of Corrections officials have testified about alleged proliferation of illegal drug trade at the NBP before the House of Representatives committee on justice, said Asuncion, adding that Dongail and Sebastian have become arch enemies.

Dongail leads the Batang City Jail gang while Jaybee and the three Chinese druglords belong to Commando Gang.

Sebastian was alleged to have been propped up by former justice secretary Leila de Lima as a major Filipino drug dealer at the NBP, and Co was identified as a major source of shabu from China which is traded at the NBP. They were invited, but have not yet testified at the congressional hearing.

Authorities suspended visitation rights of inmates at the NBP. The SAF and the military began a joint operation to prepare for the eruption of a bigger riot at NBP’s maximum security compound which hosts about 15,000 inmates, said the Bureau of Corrections, adding a team of investigators was formed to probe the riot.

Several sectors also called for de Lima’s investigation for her alleged role in the riot.

De Lima, including local and foreign rights groups, have been criticising President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war which has killed 3,000 since early July. The police said that drug syndicates were responsible for more than half of the fatalities.

Illegal drug trade had reached $8.4 billion a year in 2013, authorities said.