ILOILO – Four personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Region 6 assigned at the Iloilo District Jail (IDJ) in Barangay Nanga, Pototan town were administratively charged over August’s protest staged by over a hundred persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
According to BJMP-6 spokesperson Atty. Jairus Anthony Dogelio, included in the charges were warden Jail Chief Inspector Norberto Miciano Jr., the chief security officer and two other duty personnel.
Dogelio said the charges included gross neglect of duty for the chief security and two duty personnel, which led to their failure to monitor the activity of the inmates, and the failure to supervise and exercise command responsibility on the part of the jail warden.
“There is a prima facie evidence nga may neglect on their part,” said Dogelio.
To attract public attention to their plight, the PDLs climbed to the roof of the jail’s administrative building and staged a noise barrage.
Among their complaints were: their meals were not enough and poorly prepared; items being sold in the commissary were too expensive; and the warden needed to shape up.
BJMP provides each PDL with a food allowance of P70 per day or P23 per meal.
The protest started at around 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 24 and ended at around 3:30 p.m. after seven hours of negotiation with the BJMP.
Dogelio said the case will be heard by the BJMP regional hearing officer.
“That will be the proper venue to determine sang ila liability,” said Dogelio.
Following the inmates’ protest, a probe into the inmates’ concerns was conducted.
Now, according to the BJMP-6 spokesperson, the PDLs’ concerns are being addressed.
On the part of the Iloilo provincial government, it committed to provide rice subsidy to the inmates.
“Yes, (we) will give assistance. Ang nasugilanon naton sina of course together with the (Sangguniang Panlalawigan) nga our direction is to give assistance in kind, bugas and other needs,” said Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
He added: “Pagkatapos sadtu sang insidente, ang ka-meeting ko to next day was the regional director of the BJMP-6 (Jail Chief Superintendent Clint Russell Tangeres) and DILG secretary (Benjamin) Abalos (Jr.)… Ang solution sina dira which is ara sa national government, taasan man ang budget sang ginapakaon sa inmates ta.”/PN
