BJMP-8 head denies 10% “cut” from food budget

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines  — Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Region 8 director, Senior Superintendent Wenefredo Abordo, denied reports of his alleged 10 percent cut from the monthly food allowance of this city's Female Jail dormitory.

Abordo issued this statement while inmates are now planning to stage a hunger strike in protest of the reported slashing of the P50 food subsidy to only P18, for every inmate due to the alleged anomaly.

Abordo, in an exclusive interview with The Freeman, said these reports were baseless, but malicious allegations hurled against his leadership and concocted by people who continued to resist "change" inside the City Jail.

Recently a letter from the female inmates demanded from Abordo the immediate relief of the Tacloban City Jail Female Dormitory warden, Inspector Leizel Rosales, because of the alleged insufficiency of food they have been receiving.

"That is a blatant lie and no basis at all. These reports are products of 'resistance to change.' If they have proof then bring it to proper forum and I'm ready to answer," Abordo said.

He said that, during one of his meeting with the 39 female inmates, he promised to sack Rosales in December last year but could not implement it due to lack of BJMP officials who could replace her.

Despite the inmates' P50 daily food allowance, these women have managed to feed their families even from behind bars, said Abordo.

The BJMP director explained that the P50 food budget for each inmate is broken down into P10 for breakfast, P20 for lunch and P20 for dinner.

Accordingly, the weekly menu changes every month and is approved by the BJMP-NCR's National Food Service Council, he said. Random jail inspection by the Internal Audit Section makes sure that the typical menu is served, but there are times when inmates would request for a change in the menu, which is, however, subject to the jail council's approval, he said.

Abordo said a typical meal always has vegetables, a cup of rice and either chicken or fish. If there is excess rice, an inmate can ask for more.

Inmates are asked to eat their three meals within the allotted time, although they are allowed to have snack between meals.

With BJMP approval, goodies from families and visitors may be stored in the prison kitchen's refrigerator. Jail policy prohibits wine, liquor and cigarettes, and packages brought in by visitors are strictly checked to prevent the switching of soda bottles with beer, an old modus since discovered and discouraged, said Abordo. (FREEMAN)