ILOILO – Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) should be treated humanely, stressed Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. who ordered an investigation on the protest of PDLs at the rooftop of the Iloilo District Jail in Barangay Nanga, Pototan town.
Abalos was here yesterday. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), he stressed, is committed to ensuring the humane safekeeping of PDLs in all jails under its supervision.
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is an attachment agency of the DILG.
PDLs at the Iloilo District Jail complained of being served with meals not fit for human consumption and the skyrocketing prices of goods in the jail’s commissary.
“We will continue to undertake measures to improve jail services and facilities to help in the rehabilitation of PDLs and their eventual reintegration to society,” said Abalos.
Abalos expressed concern over the PDLs’ protest on Wednesday and confirmed having approved the temporarily relief of the Iloilo District Jail warden, Jail Chief Inspector Norberto Miciano, pending investigation.
“We would look into the matters being raised, particularly doon po sa pagkain. That’s very important,” said Abalos who administered yesterday the oath-taking of newly-elected officers of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – Iloilo chapter.
Miciano’s deputy, Jail Inspector Woody Palmejar, replaced him.
According to Abalos, the BJMP under Jail Director Allan Iral will investigate the incident.
He also ordered BJMP Western Visayas director, Jail Chief Superintendent Russel Tangeres, to attend to the concerns of the PDLs.
“Actually its pending investigation so hindi natin alam kung totoo o hindi. Pero gayon pa man, habang ini-imbestigahan, importante ay maibigay kaagad ang...it should be the humane way. Remember, nire-reform natin ang mga preso para sila ay magbagong buhay. That’s the essence,” said Abalos.
Wednesday’s protest of the PDLs started at around 8:30 a.m. It ended at around 3:30 p.m. after seven hours of negotiation with BJMP Region 6.
The Iloilo District Jail has a population of over a thousand PDLs.
According to BJMP Region 6 spokesperson Jairus Dogelio, the protest could have been more than just about jail food.
Recently, 44 PDLs were transferred to a new building still at the Iloilo District Jail compound. According to Dogelio, some inmates were fearful they would be next to be transferred.
The 44 inmates were deemed high-risk, high-profile, and high-value.
How did the PDLs get to the rooftop of the district jail’s administration building?
Dogelio said the PDLs saw an opportunity to climb to the roof while they were preparing for a regular Mass at the prison facility./PN