KALIBO, Aklan – The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Region 6 has approved the recommendation to relieve Jail Inspector Eduardo Beñares, warden of the Aklan District Jail, while he is being investigated.
Jail Senior Superintendent Gilbert Peremne, deputy regional director for administration of BJMP-6, said the decision was arrived at during the regional office’s Human Resources Development Division meeting on Dec. 15.
When would the relief take effect? Still unclear. A final approval from the BJMP national headquarters is needed, said Peremne.
The official added that Beñares will likely be temporarily reassigned to the BJMP regional office while under investigation.
An anonymous text message received by BJMP-6 on Nov. 29, 2020 prompted it to order an investigation on the warden of the Aklan District Jail based in Barangay Nalook, Kalibo.
Beñares, for his part, quickly addressed the matter. He denied asking a duty jail personnel to accompany his drunk civilian bodyguard to a bus terminal in Kalibo.
Beñares also denied pulling a gun on a jail officer.
“We have to wait for the confirmation of the BJMP national headquarters on the relief order, probably next week or before Dec. 31,” said Peremne.
He added: “Para sa impartial investigation ang relief ni Beñares.”
Peremne also stressed that leadership change at the Aklan District Jail, should there be one, “is the discretion of the BJMP regional director.”
Pereme, however, shared an observation that “hindi na healthy ang relationship sa jail facility, lalo na sa mga jail officers.”
“Hindi natin dapat pabayaan ang mga ganitong sitwasyon,” he stressed./PN
