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Thursday, March 23, 2006
Human Rights checks rehab center
By Kathy Villalon Cinco
THE Commission on Human Rights conducted an ocular inspection at the new Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) in Nanga, Pototan Wednesday.
Lawyers Petria Torato and Ernesto Tajanlangit inspected the rehabilitation center upon the instruction of Director David Bermudo.
Torato's company reportedly interviewed the inmates and observed the ways inside the center comparing with it the complaints the inmates made earlier.
Last Monday, the inmates complained of poor food supply, unclean water and water source and maltreatment by the guards.
In a radio interview Wednesday, lawyer Edeljulio Romero said the inmates revealed that jail warden Juan Mabugat led the guards in maltreating them last Monday. They added that he was drunk when he did this.
Romero said he was surprised to know that 40, and not eight inmates were maltreated.
Meanwhile, Mabugat said the inmates were lying. "Who would you believe? The vandals, radicals and kidnappers or the guards?" he said in a radio interview Wednesday. He added that some of the inmates hate him because he was the one who had them imprisoned.
"The CHR's inspection was not one-sided. They went there to see the inmates' situation as well as the facilities that they destroyed. I gave them clearance to ask the inmates as well as enter any room they want," Mabugat said.
Torato and Tajanlangit were not the only human rights representatives who visited the IRC. Bermudo and Chris Montano visited the place around 5 p.m. Wednesday and made queries.
"Our visit there was unannounced. Mabugat was also quick to say 'Gusto nyo kamo na lang kadto, basi may masumalang kamo nga tawo nga gusto nyo interview nga wala ako, para indi ma-inhibit (You might want to go on your own so that I could not inhibit the queries in case you want to interview someone)'. But I told him to go with us so he could guide us," Montano said.
"We saw the food being prepared and that there was so much rice. In fact, many trays have been laid out already. I asked the woman preparing the food as to what the inmates' dinner would be. She said 'miswa' (white noodles) and 'uga' (dried fish).
We asked what they had during lunch and another answered 'adobo nga manok.'"
Montano added that he also checked the utensils and found them not greasy, contrary to the inmates' complaints.
Open
Montano said the human rights is willing and open for an investigation on the human rights abuses claim which the inmates hurled against the guards and Mabugat.
Even if they are not free because of crimes they did, they still have rights," Montano said.(with LABB)
(March 23, 2006 issue)
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