Rama asks BJMP to replace jail warden

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama has requested the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Region 7 to relieve Cebu City Jail Warden Felixberto Jagorin Jr.

In a letter to BJMP 7 Regional Director Romeo Salazar, Rama said he has lost trust in Jagorin because of two major reasons: the incidents of inmates escaping from the jail and Jagorin’s recent testimony in court that he cannot secure the safety of SPO1 Adonis Dumpit at the city jail.

Dumpit is behind bars for allegedly killing suspected robber Ronron Go. He was first detained at the Criminal Investigation and Detention Group office, but was transferred to the city jail following reports that he was allowed to leave detention. 

“It redounds to his incompetence as a jail warden of a premier city,” Rama’s letter reads.

The mayor asked Salazar to look for a more qualified jail official who is “more competent, capable and responsible.” Jagorin has sat as jail warden for the past seven months.

“Being the Queen City of the South, we deserve to have a city jail warden who will not shirk from his responsibilities and have the guts to face all the challenges in the performance of his functions,” Rama’s letter reads further.

Romeo Cordova, the mayor’s consultant for security and peace and order and presiding officer of the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC), said Rama was also irked when he learned that Jagorin, despite being a member of PCAC, failed to seek advice from the body when he wrote the court about Dumpit’s detention at the city jail.

Cordova said he even advised Jagorin during the recent PCAC meeting to voluntarily resign as jail warden because his testimony in court would certainly irk the mayor. — (FREEMAN)