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Wednesday, May 24, 2006
40 minors to be freed from Oro jail
By Danilo V. Adorador III
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Forty minor offenders are set to be freed from the City Jail in Lumbia, a jail official said.
The release of these minor offenders came after the passage of a law, which seeks to reform the country's justice system and keep minors from jail.
Reports of abuses inside the city jail are also being investigated, assured the new city jail warden Simeon Dolojo, who was at the City Council Monday for a courtesy call.
Dolojo was responding to questions from Councilor Maryanne Enteria who said she has received complaints of beatings among inmates and the alleged unauthorized use of mobile phones inside the prison facilities.
Under Bureau of Jail Management and Penology regulations, the use of mobile phones is prohibited among inmates for security reasons.
Quoting sources inside the Lumbia jail, Enteria said, some personnel are allowing their mobile phones to be used by inmates at a rate of P5 per text message, P35 a minute for calls.
She narrated a complaint from a prisoner's relative, whose kin was allegedly mauled by jail guards and locked-up inside the isolation room to conceal wounds and bruises.
Dolojo conceded that the reported abuses may have occurred in the past, and confirmed that an investigation is ongoing.
He said the City Jail management will provide details to these abuses once the inquiry is over.
Although the jail has no assigned doctors, the prisoner's health, he said, are being taken care of by their personnel who are registered nurses.
Dolojo also appealed to the City Government to approve its P1-million budget for this year, saying this will be needed by the prisoners and to help fund the construction of a new building for minor inmates.
A personnel has been assigned to review the cases of the 40 minors presently detained in Lumbia jail, he said, in compliance with the Republic Act 9344 that directs law enforcers to immediately turn over children caught for unlawful or criminal acts to social workers upon their apprehension.
The law, signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last week, also provides criminal exemption for children 15 years and below while offenders ages 15 to 18 can be criminally charged only if they acted out the crime "with discernment."
He said the transfer of minors to the Department of Social Welfare and Development will decongest the jail "so that our prisoners will live in a more humane environment."
Meanwhile, women inmates already have a separate facility inside the Lumbia Jail and have its own female warden in compliance with the Women and Children's Welfare Act.
Dolojo assumed as City Jail Warden two weeks ago after heading the Iligan City Jail for a year. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)
(May 24, 2006 issue)
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