A provincial jail detainee died Tuesday after reportedly drinking an undetermined amount of monosodium glutamate, locally known as "vetsin", a day before his scheduled transfer to the national penitentiary.

Inmate Rolly Pacunla, 42, of Brgy. Tampalon, Kabankalan City, was foaming in the mouth when he was rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital at about 9 p.m. Tuesday, Provincial jail warden Marcos Ybañez told the DAILY STAR yesterday.

Pacunla died at the hospital later, Ybañez said. He also said initial investigation showed that Pacunla diluted the "vetsin" with orange juice in his drinking glass and drank it. He said Pacunla's co-inmates reported to the quadrangle guard that he had a stomachache and was asking to be brought to the hospital.

He said the jail guard did not act at once because Pacunla claimed earlier that he will escape from jail if given a chance. After few minutes, however, Pacunla vomited and his face grew pale, prompting the jail guards to rush him to the CLMMRH.

Ybañez said they recovered two sachets of monosodium glutamate from Pacunla's bed and found the residue of "vetsin" in his drinking glass.

He said Pacunla's younger brother Prudencio, also a detainee told him that his brother had said that he will kill himself before he is transferred to the Muntinlupa.

Ybañez said Pacunla remains were subjected to autopsy and he expects the result today. He said his brother, Prudencio was remitted to the national penitentiary yesterday.

Court records show that Rolly and Prudencio Pacunla were remitted to the Provincial Jail in January after Kabankalan Judge Henry Arles sentenced them to a 40 years of imprisonment, or reclusion perpetua for killing Greg Padu-ong in Brgy. Tampalon on Feb. 22, 2002.

Arles, meanwhile, dismissed the murder charge against another Pacunla sibling, Jose Joleito Pacunla, on the grounds that he has not been identified to have participated in the commission of the crime.*DMG

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