Thursday, April 12, 2007 Most Dapecol guards were on leave: chief By Stella A. Estremera
A NUMBER of the prison guards were on leave for the Holy Week when the New People's Army (NPA) raided the armory of the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Braulio E. Dujali town of Davao del Norte, Easter Sunday.
This was a major security lapse and a security no-no for any prison facility, returning Prison Superintendent Venancio J. Tesoro told Sun.Star Davao Tuesday night in a telephone interview.
"Traditionally, in any prison facility, major holidays are the time to be vigilant and to place the facility on red alert," he said. "Kaya nagulat kami nung nangyari ito on an Easter Sunday kasi ang pagkakaalam namin (that is why we were surprised when it happened because all we know is that prison cells are supposedly) on high alert during these times."
Tesoro described the situation that led to the raid as sheer "kapabayaan" (negligence) and expressed confidence that a similar incident will be difficult to replicate for as long as standard security procedures are followed.
Tesoro, before he was appointed as Dapecol superintendent to replace Prison Superintendent Catalino Malinao, has been its superintendent two times already and he said that even during those times, leaves were not granted during holiday seasons.
Apparently, the rebels saw this major security lapse and planned their attack, disarming the lone prison guard manning the main gates (not two as earlier reported), SG1 Alfredo Sambalod.
There were supposed to be four guards manning the gates, Tesoro said.
"As soon as I took over kanina (Tuesday), I gave several orders, the first one was, cancel all leaves," he said.
They are also conducting a headcount of all personnel and prisoners, and direct link with the military was made.
When interviewed, Tesoro was at a fellowship with the Philippine Army, his way of getting to know the military officials personally, he said.
"I immediately met with the Philippine National Police Regional Office, the Eastern Mindanao Command (of the Armed Forces of the Philippines), and the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation), just for intelligence sharing. Kasi nga, while we may be just a prison facility, I have convicts whom we can get information from," he said.
He intends to have the main gate pushed back in to allow more elbow room to maneuver from. The present gate is too close to the highway, he said.
Tesoro also brushed off speculations that the raid decimated their firearms inventory, saying what were taken were those for emergency use and special operations but all their guards are still armed.
"When the firearms were taken, it does not mean that the facility was stripped because our guards are all issued firearms. Naka memorandum order iyan sa mga security personnel," he said. Thus, he said, the regular security of the prison facility is still assured.
"Pagka nagkaroon lang ng (only when there is) emergency, then we have to call the police and the military," he said.
They have a total of 178 prison guards working on eight-hour shifts everyday.
