Capitol cuts privilegesof inmates

CEBU, Philippines - The Capitol has suspended yesterday all the privileges extended to inmates following last Friday’s incident at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center.

Capitol consultant on jail matters Jose Ma. Gastardo said that inmates are no longer allowed to go out of their cells and that foods are now being delivered to them.

The regular visitation of family members and relatives today is also suspended. It was not known, however, when the privileges will be restored.

Gastardo also denied reports that a noise barrage and riot occurred at the jail yesterday.

“If there was, it was probably because during the time of the distribution of foods,” he said.

After the incident, Gastardo said they will institute changes at the jail facility.

The commotion erupted Friday morning when a group of dancing inmates attacked a fellow prisoner, Carillo Balueza, 26, for allegedly verbally harassing them during their practice.

Balueza was allegedly shouting profanities at the practicing inmates after he escaped from his “brigade.”

This irked the group and prompted the inmates to attack Balueza, putting the entire practice to a stop.

The crowd dispersed only after a jail guard fired a warning shot into the air.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said such incident is expected in a facility with over 1,600 inmates.

“We are not running a nunnery here or a pilgrim center. You would have to expect that now and then we would have incidence like this but the important thing is that it was handled and the situation was put under control,” Garcia said.

Garcia said that inmates have to understand the strict discipline imposed at the jail facility.

But she said the CPDRC inmates are being probably the most well-fed, well-clothed and most praised inmates in the world.

She said that the inmates’ cells are not pigpens but quarters with toilet and bath.

Garcia emphasized that inmates must strictly observe the rules at the jail facility.

“We will see if they are ready to behave in an orderly and disciplined manner then we will resume, again allow some of these privileges,” Garcia said.

Garcia also defended the cancellation of the performance of dancing inmates yesterday, saying they have no obligation to the public since the performance is provided free and that safety and security of the public must be given priority.

The performance is scheduled every last Saturday of the month.

“We just had a minor incident, any incident will automatically mean the suspension of privileges and other activities which will involve the public,” she said as she ordered an investigation into the incident.

Another commotion

Another commotion reportedly erupted again inside the CPDRC yesterday morning.

This after inmates allegedly complained after they were not fed since Friday’s incident.

An inmate, who asked not to be named, told The FREEMAN that those one who allegedly mauled Balueza were not dancing inmates but persons in “authority,” which reportedly led to the commotion.

Since then, they were not given food for lunch and supper on Friday.

He said they were not allowed to go out of their cells because of the incident.

He accused jail authorities of turning “brutal against them,” saying many of his fellow inmates have been mauled. 

According to him, instead of Balueza, two inmates were sent to solitary confinement for starting the incident.

The informant said instead of a single warning shot, at least five shots were fired by security personnel to pacify the commotion. An inmate was reportedly grazed by a bullet from the jail security personnel.

The inmates are now asking Garcia to hear their sentiments. — With Ryan Christopher J. Sorote/LPM (FREEMAN)