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Monday, June 09, 2003
Prank or not, inmate sets off ‘bomb’ in jail
By Mia E. Abellana
CEBU -- Visiting privileges were suspended for three hours at the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC) yesterday morning after inmate Joel “Tongol” Nodalo refused a dialogue with Warden Mamerto Baroro.
Baroro called for the meeting because Nodalo caused quite a stir at the BBRC last Saturday after he made an improvised explosive and let it go off that afternoon.
Baroro said the jail guards were alarmed and thought a gun was fired inside the jail.
It turned out that Nodalo pounded the tips of match-sticks, wrapped them in aluminum foil and made them explode.
Baroro immediately summoned Nodalo to his office.
Nodalo reportedly refused to go to the warden’s office, prompting Baroro to suspend visiting hours Sunday.
The rest of the inmates inside began shouting in protest, which prompted jail officials to call for a fire truck to be ready in case of a disturbance.
Visitors also crowded outside the jail, demanding that they be allowed to see the inmates.
Wanted his mama
Nodalo refused to see Baroro unless his mother Cristita was present.
When his mother arrived, Nodalo relented at noon and agreed to be placed in a smaller isolation cell (bartolina) if he committed any more violations.
He made this promise to Baroro in the presence of his mother and the officers of Batang Cebu .45 (BC45), an organization of inmates inside the BBRC.
Baroro said he has had it with Nodalo’s insolence, adding that jail authorities have had to replace six padlocks he destroyed between May 16 and 28.
Nodalo also allegedly ordered several yellow T-shirts for the leaders of BC45 without his permission.
“Insulto na kaayo nako. Unsa, siya na lang ang magbuot? Wala siya nananghid nako. Napuno na ko niya,” Baroro told Sun.Star. (That’s a big insult to me. Does he call the shots here? He doesn’t ask my permission. I’ve had it with him.)
Nodalo also caused the suspension of visiting privileges last month after he led 17 other inmates in bolting their cell. (He surrendered after getting shot in the leg.)
Transfer
Nodalo is currently occupying Infirmary 2 of the BBRC, with the 17 other inmates, after they were accused of instigating riots in the BBRC.
A fire truck from the Cebu City Fire Department was stationed outside the jail Sunday, ready to disperse rioters, while two mobile cars were standing by.
Baroro plans to ask the court to have Nodalo transferred to another jail so that he would no longer cause trouble at the BBRC.
He said that if the court issues an order for Nodalo’s transfer, other jails would have no choice but to accept him.
The last time Nodalo and other “hard-headed” inmates from the BBRC were moved to other jails, officials of local government units concerned complained and had them returned because there was no court order for their transfer. Sun.Star Cebu
(June 9, 2003 issue)
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