Monday, February 18, 2008 Rule for police chiefs: Strike one, you're out
FOLLOWING the escape of detainees from police detention cells, the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) has issued guidelines reminding police chiefs of their duties in supervising inmates.
The memorandum was issued before the escape of eight detainees from the CPPO headquarters.
The memorandum directed all police chiefs to take precautionary measures to prevent another escape from happening.
“These incidents (escapes) manifested our weak points in terms of jail management and supervision that would adversely affect our performance as law enforcers,” the memorandum read.
The memo ordered police chiefs to remind their personnel of the basic principles of jail management and to implement visiting hours.
They were also told to inspect the detention facilities to see if the structures were still secure.
The memo further directed police chiefs to make sure that detainees did not possess items that are considered contraband under custodial rules.
These include firearms, cellular phones, bladed instruments, drugs, medicines except those prescribed by doctors, appliances, metal items, glass items, camera and video equipment, kitchen and table utensils, alcoholic beverages and “other items deemed instrumental to the safety of the detainees and security of the facility and custodial personnel.”
Monthly list
The memorandum warned that effective Thursday, CPPO Director Carmelo Valmoria will be implementing a “one-strike policy” when it came to escapes.
“A chief of police who happens to experience the same incident will be relieved and subject for investigation under the doctrine of command responsibility,” it further said.
All police chiefs were required to submit a list of inmates every first Monday of the month.
Personnel from the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) and the RID are under investigation for the escape of eight inmates detained at the PIB detention cell Thursday night.
The inmates were recalled by RID personnel from the San Fernando Police Station detention cell and transferred to the PIB detention cell inside the CPPO.
Operatives from both units gave conflicting versions as to how the inmates were able to escape, prompting Valmoria to request the Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division to investigate the matter.
RID Chief Augusto Marquez Jr. said the investigation not only aimed to find out who was liable, but would also look at the procedures in handling inmates. (MEA)
