Iloilo jail warden relieved over protest of inmates

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THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered the relief of the Iloilo District Jail warden after inmates managed to climb onto the roof of the facility to protest the alleged lack of food.

In a statement, the DILG said it views “with great concern” the protest of the inmates and directed Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) chief Director Allan Iral “to conduct an immediate investigation on the unfortunate incident.”

Last Wednesday, about a hundred inmates of the Iloilo District Jail climbed the roof of the facility and conducted a noise barrage. The inmates showed placards complaining of lack of food and demanded the relief of the warden.

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The DILG said it has also ordered Iral to temporarily relieve Jail Chief Insp. Norberto Miciano Jr. from his post as warden “to give way to an impartial investigation.”

It also instructed BJMP Central Visayas director Chief Supt. Clint Russel Tangeres to attend to the concerns of the inmates “and ensure that they are provided with adequate food and other necessities.

“The DILG, through the BJMP, remains committed to ensure the humane safekeeping of PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) in the city, district and municipal jails under our supervision,” the DILG said.

BJMP spokesman Supt. Xavier Solda said Chief Inspector Denver Beltran has been designated as the acting warden of the Iloilo District Jail. He said Beltran was recently recognized by the BJMP for excellence in jail management.

The DILG also assured the public that it will continue to undertake measures to improve the jail services and jail facilities “to help in the rehabilitation of PDLs and their eventual reintegration to the society.”

BJMP Central Visayas legal service chief Supt. Jairus Dogelio sought to downplay the complaint of the inmates, saying they would not last half-a-day on the roof if their protest was true.

Dogelio said the protest was probably triggered by the recent transfer of at least 44 high-profile, high-risk and high-value inmates to a newly-constructed adjacent facility.

“They are apprehensive they will also be transferred (to the new facility); there are around 100 (inmates involved in the protest)” said Dogelio.

Dogelio said the inmates do not want to be transferred to the new jail because they are used to the facility they are housed in and their fellow inmates are there.

Dogelio said Miciano is also strict, the reason why the inmates demanded his relief.

Nevertheless, Dogelio said BJMP Central Visayas is looking into the complaints of the inmates. “That will be looked into in the conduct of the investigation,” he said.

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