Mother of hurt inmate appeals for help, inquiry

THE family of an inmate who was mauled in the provincial jail asked for financial help from Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, as well as an investigation on the warden.

Fortunata Ondit, in the radio DySS program “Dialogue on the Air,” said she needs money to pay for her son Benjie’s hospital bills and that he may need to undergo eye surgery because of his injuries. Benjie, she said, continues to spit blood.

Ondit said that acting Warden Alito Gabuya should be investigated because he made the family wait two hours before obeying a court order allowing Benjie to be brought out for medical attention.

She also said the inmates who mauled her son should be investigated.

Assurance

Leo Villarino of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), who appeared in the same program, said the agency will subpoena Gabuya on Tuesday, for an investigation in the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).

Sought for comment on the request for help, Capitol spokesperson Atty. Rory Jon Sepulveda said Ondit can “rest assured” her request will be acted upon.

Lawyer Lito Astillero, who heads the Capitol committee tasked to investigate the death of another inmate, Angelito Cabalquinto, said the governor “has the heart to help” because she is also a mother herself.

Fortunata admitted she accepted some help from Byron Garcia, the governor’s brother and former Capitol consultant on security. But she explained the family badly needed the money and is not taking sides in any feud. 

Byron, during the same program, said he has helped many former inmates in looking for a job and that he really wanted to help Ondit so he can receive medical attention.

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