Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) acting warden Jail Chief Insp. Crisyrel Awe on Thursday (Aug. 28) stepped down from his post to give way to an investigation regarding the complaints raised by the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) against the jail management.
Awe was replaced by Jail Senior Insp. Raymond Aro as officer-in-charge hours after the inmates held a noise barrage demanding his ouster due to alleged unfair treatment of the PDLs.
“It is our desire to end the situation peacefully without any injuries on any person, PDL or personnel, and without any damage to government property. In any situation, it is the safety and welfare of the PDL and personnel that is the primary consideration in any of our decisions as jail officers,” Jail Chief Supt. Brendan Fulgencio, regional director of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Negros Island Region (BJMP-NIR), said in a statement.
Jail Senior Insp. Juniven Rey Umadhay, spokesperson of BJMP-NIR, strongly debunked the allegations of abuse or maltreatment inside the NODJ Male Dormitory.
The BJMP-NIR ordered the implementation of heightened security measures inside the NODJ, following an attempt on the life of a jail officer last month and a gun throwing incident inside the facility on Aug. 24, where the duty jail officers recovered a caliber .45 pistol.
The security measures aim not only for the security of jail officers, but also for the PDLs, according to the BJMP-NIR.
Umadhay said the jail officer who had an attempt on his life was noted to be strict in the performance of his duty.
He added that all these incidents may have been connected to each other.
Umadhay justified the wearing of bullet proof vest and military helmet of BJMP personnel inside the facility as part of the precautionary measures.
In response to the allegation of unjust isolation, Umadhay said the two PDLs who were padlocked were the supposed recipients of the firearm thrown inside the facility, based on the initial investigation.
Umadhay said the cashless system, which is also being questioned, is a procedure established by the BJMP, where the PDL, who deposits cash, will be issued with coupons to purchase daily necessities.
The cashless system will eliminate inequality among the PDLs, where moneyed PDLs have influence over fellow inmates.
Hence, the system is a lawful program implemented by the jail warden pursuant to circular issued by the Jail Bureau, he added.
Among the inmates detained inside the NODJ are former ranking leaders of the New People’s Army in Negros Island, who were arrested in previous years. ||
