THE Provincial Government did not give in to the demands of about 70 "trustee" inmates who held a noise barrage Monday inside Negros Occidental Provincial Jail at Gatuslao St., Bacolod City.
The inmates demanded for the ouster of provincial jail warden Captain Dionisio Silva, as well as for the changing of some jail rules, particularly the restoration of their privileges to sleep at the minimum security barracks and to allow conjugal visits during Saturdays and Sundays.
But Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said "no compromise," adding some of the problems aired by the inmates were caused by their own practices inside the jail.
One of the complaints was the presence of ducks and other animals inside the compound. Marañon said these animals are also owned by some of the prisoners themselves.
The inmates started to hold a noise barrage around 7 a.m. Monday. Silva immediately arrived and started negotiating with the detainees.
Marañon also sent Provincial Legal Officer lawyer Jose Maria Valencia, who inquired as to the demands of the inmates. Valencia suggested that the prisoners should select representatives from among themselves who can present their demands. However, they refused to send a representative.
While holding the noise barrage, the inmates also demanded that members of the local media be allowed inside to hear their pleas.
Silva said they did not allow the media inside the jail while the unrest was still ongoing Monday for security reasons. He wanted no harm to befall members of the media if anything untoward happened inside the jail.
As to the restoration of the trustee inmates' privilege to sleep in the minimum security quarters, Silva said they abolished such privilege after trustee Jaypee Deriada escaped last July 19 by climbing the wall of the jail.
"We do not want the incident to happen again so, at 5 p.m. everyday, the trustees are sent to the maximum security prison," Silva added.
The inmates eventually stopped the noise barrage after Valencia heard their demands.
Governor Marañon confirmed Monday that the transfer of the provincial jail to its new site in Barangay Tabunan, Bago city will be delayed.
The transfer was scheduled this month but it will instead take place on November this year, he said.
He also said that aside from the beddings, which are now on the bidding process, there are a lot of things to be done for the total completion of the new provincial jail.
He said the old provincial jail is too crowded, prompting the Provincial Government to transfer the inmates to its new site where there is enough space so that the prisoners can engage in productive activities and livelihood projects that could sustain them, such as food production, gardening and poultry.
Marañon revealed that Negros Occidental provincial jail warden Silva had proposed an additional budget for the operation and food allowance of the inmates.
At present, Silva said the prisoners are given P40 a day for their three meals. This amount, Marañon said, is based on the allowable budget set by law.
Considering that the prices of food and all other commodities went up, Marañon is considering increasing the budget for the provincial jail. He did not mention any specific amount.
It is the Provincial Government that shoulders the food allowance and salaries of the jail guards.
Once the provincial jail is transferred to its new site, the Provincial Government plans to turnover the jail management to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. The jail transfer was planned by the late Governor Joseph Marañon. (TED)