After hostage-taking incident: BJMP-7 relieves eight jail guards

CEBU, Philippines - The eight jail officers, who were accused of maltreating children in conflict with the law inside Operation Second Chance Center, were relieved from their post yesterday by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-7.

This came after a jail officer was held hostage by a group of children in order for them to air their grievances against alleged abuses inside the OSC.

BJMP Assistant Regional Director Efren Nemeño told The FREEMAN that the relief order for the eight jail officers were released on Monday, but took effect only yesterday.

Nemeño said the eight were transferred to other jail facilities within the region while they are currently under investigation.

He would not, however, disclose where the eight have been transferred.

“(The relief) this is in connection with the ongoing investigation para di sila (jail officers) maka influence sa investigation didto (OSC) para ma-lessen ang tension kay mao may request sa mga minor didto kay lisod nga mag sigi sila’g kita,” (…so that they would not influence the investigation and to lessen the tension because it is the request of the minors since it would be difficult if they always see them) he said.

BJMP-7 will also be getting statements from 10 OSC house parents for any grievances the children might have aired to them regarding the alleged abuses inside the facility.

Nemeño, who also led the negotiations with the minors, said they were indeed security protocol lapses inside prior to the hostage taking.

According to him, jail officers are not allowed to enter any cell during routine headcount.

“Ang mga piniriso imo ra na palingkuron unya naa ra ka sa gawas sa selda mag ihap. Di gyud ka mo sulod,” (The inmates have to be told to sit down and you stay outside where you do the count. You never go inside) he said.

Injuries

Nemeño also said that the victim and another jail officer were injured during the hostage taking.

Aside from the victim, two other jail officers reportedly assisted the victim during the headcount.

The authorities also clarified that the guard, who was held hostage, is not among the eight, who are subject of the complaints.

Nemeño said that the victim who was held hostage sustained a fracture on the left arm.

Another jail officer sustained several contusions and an open wound on his head after he was hit by a piece of wound while escaping the cell.

The third jail officer, who was standing outside the cell, escaped unharmed. BJMP-7 will provide financial assistance for their injured.

Nemeño also said all jail officers assigned at OSC underwent special courses on handling children.

House parents

 Cebu City Councilor Margarita Osmeña said she wants the house parents and social workers to submit their own reports on the hostage incident.

She said that such report must include the situation at the facility prior to the hostage taking.

Osmeña, a member of the Cebu City Operation Second Chance Management Board, said they cannot just look at the matter on one direction but they have to know the different angles of the story.

“I’ve asked the social workers and the house parents to make their own report because they are closer to the kids,” Osmeña said.

She added that the requests of the children detained at the facility must be discussed thoroughly because most of them, in her own opinion, are unacceptable.

“We cannot just give-in to what they want, especially the jalousies. It’s a big NO because if they get angry, they can just take that and use as a weapon,” Osmeña said.

She said the report given to them by the jail warden was merely a spot report that does not explain how things happened.

The facility’s management board is awaiting the progress report and the investigative report before taking further action.

Osmeña said this is not the first time the children in conflict with the law have held somebody hostage.

“But it was not as bad as it is now,” she said.

Mayor’s order

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said that he has already instructed the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council to conduct a thorough investigation on the incident.

He said he wants to know in particular how come the hostage taking occurred under the watch of a new jail warden, but not under the watch of the previous warden.

“I am directing PCAC presiding officer Eugene Elizalde to go the bottom of the issue and conduct a real discussion with the inmates, the guards and everyone there,” Rama said.

SEPARATE PROBE

Judge Olegario Sarmiento, director of the Cebu City Operation Second Chance Management Board, will conduct a separate probe on the incident.

“Yes I will, I will… in fact, I will go there on Saturday, once I have the report,” he said.

Sarmiento said he was worried about the incident and directed the jail warden to submit a report for the investigation.

Sarmiento, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 24, assumed as director of Operation Second Chance Management Board in 2004.

After the investigation will be conducted, Sarmiento said if proven that there is abuse committed by the eight jail guards they will be liable for administrative and criminal cases.

Moreover, Sarmiento said he thinks one of the reasons of the incident was because of their plea not to transfer the legal aged detainees to other jail facility. — with Jessica Ann R. Pareja and Mylen P. Manto/NLQ (FREEMAN)