Lack of guards blamed for suicide try at CPDRC

CEBU, Philippines- Lack of jail guards who will look over the inmates inside the facility remains a problem at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, a jail official admitted.

Jail warden Romeo Manansala raised the concern following an incident inside the jail facility on Saturday involving an inmate who was rushed to the hospital after jumping off the 12-foot viewing deck.

The inmate indentified as Joven Poligrates obtained a cut on his head after landing on the quadrangle.

Manansala said that there was only one guard assigned at the quadrangle when the incident happened. He said Rafael Espina Jr., the guard on duty at that time, called the attention of Poligrates when the latter bolted into the viewing deck, and asked him to get off the area but to no avail.

He said the management had requested the Capitol for additional jail guards to be detailed inside the facility, at least three in every shift-morning, afternoon, and night.

He, however, made it clear that there are enough blue guards manning the entrance of the jail facility where screening of visitors is conducted.

“Daghan kaayo’g priso, tulo unta ka gwardiya i-assign diri sa sulod, sa quadrangle,” he told reporters.

 The CPDRC houses more than 2,300 inmates, way beyond its 1,600 capacity.

In a separate interview, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said he has directed the jail management to submit an incident report involving Poligrates.

He added that the province is already working on the publication of the positions for one jail guard and warden, since Manansala only acts as officer-in-charge, to be detailed at the CPDRC.

“We are looking at deploying more jail guards diha sa CPDRC,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Board is proposing a measure that would require the installation of closed-circuit television cameras in all jails and police stations in the province.

The ordinance aims to promote “the good name of law enforcement agencies and institutions handling detainees.”

The proposed ordinance was referred yesterday to the PB’s committee on public safety for further actions and discussions.  (FREEMAN)