Jail warden denies neglecting inmates

THE Davao City Jail Annex Friday denied allegations of negligence following a series of reported inmates’ deaths.

In a phone interview, Jail Senior Inspector Peter D. Bongngat said they are exerting all their efforts to take care and serve the needs of the inmates inside the Davao City Jail Annex in Ma-a, where inmates with special needs such as the elderly, sick, among others, are detained.

"We give them their medical needs and bring them to the hospital even without a court order in emergency situations," Bongngat told Sun.Star Davao.

Bongngat was reacting to a concerned citizen's email Sun.Star Davao about the alleged "controversial" situation inside the Davao City Jail Annex amidst the death of at least five inmates.

Bongngat said they cannot yet give the statistics and full details of the deaths of the inmates as it requires a formal letter sent form the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Davao Region.

"These are all natural deaths," Bongngat said.

Bongngat added the inmates died in the hospital contrary to reports that they died inside the jail. In fact, Bongngat said, they have all the records to be accessed at the BJMP Davoa for transparency.