Gov relieves jail officials

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday relieved the warden, the assistant warden and the consultant of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center after a jail guard allowed an inmate to have lunch at a restaurant after a court hearing instead of immediately taking him back to the jail last Wednesday.

Garcia ordered the relief of jail warden Alger Commendador, assistant warden Reynaldo Pepito Jr. and Capitol consultant on jail matters, retired Col. Cesar Veloso.

Comendador visited Garcia yesterday and was informed that he was already relieved.

“This is not to preclude the proper investigation which shall be endorsed to the Committee on Discipline and Investigation headed by Atty. (Lito) Astillero,” Garcia said.

She said the recent incident was only one of the incidents that convinced her to relieve the two jail officers.

There has also been an investigation conducted by the committee on jail guards over the escape of inmates after court hearings.

“Let this serve as a warning to all those who have been tasked to perform their duties and will not come up to expectation worst will turn their backs in their own responsibilities. I will not hesitate to relieve you and even dismiss you from service subject to due process,” Garcia said.

Garcia designated Security Agent 1 Napoleon Miranda as acting warden, Prison Guard 1 Romeo Manansala as assistant warden, and Capitol consultant on planning Jose Ma. Gastardo as new consultant on jail matters.

Veloso is still the Capitol consultant on peace and order.Garcia explained that Gastardo drawn up CPDRC’s manual of operation, which will be endorsed to the Provincial Board.

Under the Local Government Code, the PB is tasked to come up with a manual on jail operations.

Garcia believed Gastardo will be instrumental in the effort to have the manual passed by the PB and implemented at the CPDRC.

Garcia also announced that the Capitol will open the jail warden position to qualified applicants.

“We need the fresh breath of air from the outside,” she said.

Comendador and Pepito will be assigned to other works pending recommendation of the committee investigating the matter.

Motion

The prosecution is set to file a motion for contempt against former mayor Alfredo Arcenio of Lezo Aklan, his lawyer and jail guard after they were spotted eating in a restaurant.

State Prosecutor Llena Ipong-Avila said state prosecutor Hazel Valdez will file contempt against the three.

Arcenio is charged for murder over the killing of Bombo Radyo Kalibo station manager Herson Hinolan in 2004.

Avila, head of the DOJ-Witness Protection Program (WPP), said she will talk with their director of what to do on the issue. The family of late Hinolan was under DOJ protection.

She said Arcenio’s lawyer should have displayed prudent since he knows the rule.

“The only price in possession of the guard was his job, he should be careful…the lawyer should be prudent enough,” she said.

Avila said if Arcenio’s lawyer wants to satisfy his client, it should be done in the right place.

“He can visit his client all the time in jail and at the same time he can bring him food,” she said.(FREEMAN)