Capitol moves for Arsenio's transfer

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia broke her temper over an editorial of another daily imputing a special relationship between Capitol officials and a provincial jail inmate, Alfredo Arsenio, former mayor of Lezo town in Aklan province.

In a press conference yesterday, Garcia clarified that the only connection of Arsenio is his being detained at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) which is now reviewing his transfer to another facility managed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

“Certainly, I vehemently deny that he has any connections - the kind (that the editorial) is imputing, whatsoever, with the Capitol,” she said.

Garcia said she was offended by the editorial questioning the management and capacity of CPDRC and on how the Capitol disciplines its jail guards.

“So, kung mokwestiyon mo sa among management, and the way we run CPDRC, well I would challenge you, how about you running a jail facility. Suwayi kuno ninyo, we are not perfect, we’ve never claimed to be but do not impute,” she said.

“A very suggestive question imputing bribery,” she added.

Garcia has been running the facility in the past eight years. The jail is known worldwide because of its dancing inmates.

Garcia also denied not imposing sanctions or discipline on wardens and jail guards because she has suspended two jail wardens already because of two incidents involving the said inmate.

“Haven’t we disciplined them? Kay ngano man, are we going to discipline them before the act is committed?” she asked.

“Mura ug kulba naman kaayo nang inyong gipasaka nga intriga nga dunay connection si Arsenio sa Capitol,” she added.

Provincial Legal Officer Marino Martinquilla pointed out that the fact that the governor ordered an investigation suggests that the Capitol has no connection with Arsenio.

Capitol consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda also manifested concern on the safety of Arsenio at the CPDRC considering that he has been the cause of the relief of some jail guards and the deprivation of some privileges of the inmates.

With Sepulveda’s statement, Martinquilla said they will file appropriate motion and will try their best to convince the court to transfer Arsenio to other facilities like the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center.—(FREEMAN)