New QC jail warden seeks Ivler's transfer

MANILA, Philippines - As the Quezon City Jail drew flak for the alleged special treatment accorded to Jason Ivler, the QCJ’s new warden has volunteered to transfer the road rage murder suspect and asked the court for permission to do so.

Jail warden Superintendent Joseph Torres Vale wrote Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Fernando Sagun Jr. last April 3 to ask for a commitment order to transfer Ivler to the Metro Manila District Jail at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

In his letter, Vale stated as reasons for Ivler’s transfer the fact that the detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa “was built purposely” to hold “high-risk and high-profile inmates” like Ivler.

Vale also cited the move would help ensure that the ongoing investigation by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) leadership into the allegations would not be hampered.

Ivler is facing murder charges for allegedly killing Renato Victor Ebarle Jr., a son and namesake of a former Malacañang executive, in a road rage incident in 2009.

Recently, the prosecutors in the case asked Quezon City RTC Branch 219 Judge Bayani Vargas, who is hearing the case, for Ivler’s transfer after he was allegedly accorded special treatment while at the city jail.

Prosecutors cited photos posted online showing Ivler having a party and drinking liquor while inside detention. He was also shown in the company of women during those parties. The photos were allegedly taken during the Christmas season last year.

Superintendent Nestor Velasquez, who was the warden at the time the photos were allegedly taken, earlier denied that such improprieties could have happened during his time. Velasquez was jail warden until January this year.

Over the weekend, the BJMP relieved Velasquez’s successor, Senior Superintendent Hernan Grande, and replaced him with Vale.