Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Detainee questions CPDRC facilities
A POLITICAL prisoner who is running for public office is asking the Office of Ombudsman-Visayas to look into the allegedly anomalous transactions in the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).
Jigger Geverola filed a complaint before the anti-graft office yesterday and raised five issues against Capitol.
Geverola is questioning the allegedly overpriced construction of a kitchen in the jail that cost P3 million in June 2005.
But Capitol consultant on security Byron Garcia, in a radio interview, said recycled materials were used to build the kitchen and the cost did not even reach P500,000.
Geverola also questioned the renting of vehicles for inmates that costs P5,000 per day for each vehicle, saying the money should have been used to buy a brand new vehicle.
Garcia, however, explained that the renting of vehicles is part of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s outsourcing program.
This way, Capitol is able to save because it does not need to provide salary and benefits for the driver as well as spend for the vehicles’ maintenance.
Geverola is also questioning the alleged anomalous procurement of ingredients for the inmates’ food ration but Garcia said there could be no irregularity because it is the General Services Office that procures, while the payment is handled by the Provincial Treasurer’s Office.
Geverola also complained why CPDRC has stopped sending him food to the Central Command where he is detained.
But Garcia said it is because Geverola threw away the food they send.
He told Geverola’s wife to get the P900 a month budget for him, but she did not go to the CPDRC.
Geverola also alleged that the inmates do not get the salary they deserve for the bags and other native products they produce for an exporter. But Garcia also denied this, saying the project has helped the inmates a lot.
Garcia said Geverola must prove his allegations before the ombudsman. Otherwise, Capitol will be the one to sue him.
Garcia added that Geverola is just using CPDRC to get attention as he is running for councilor in Argao, his hometown. (MBG)
