The jail facility’s electricity was cut off after the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) sent them a P613,000 bill, representing surcharges and interests incurred for unpaid obligations for years 2001, 2002, and 2003.
Jail Warden Superintendent Edgar Bolcio said power at the MCJ was cut off at 11:20 a.m. last Monday.
Bolcio said matters like paying electricity bills are handled by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in the regional level.
The MCJ, he explained, simply forwards the bill to the regional office and it is the latter that pays the obligations according to available funds.
He added that the amount which the MCJ had to pay was incurred before he became the jail warden of the facility. – Michael Punongbayan