CHR to probe food mess at Davao City jail

DAVAO CITY — The Southern Mindanao office of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) here is set to investigate reports that inmates at the Davao City jail in Barangay Maa were being shortchanged in their daily meal allowance.

The inmates have reportedly complained that they were getting only about P20 worth of food out of the P30 food allowance allotted each inmate daily.

Jail warden Serafin Baretto Jr., however, dismissed the allegations as baseless, claiming that certain quarters interested in his post were behind the negative reports.

Baretto said the city jail’s suppliers even have to find ways to stretch the measly amount so they could provide enough food for the inmates.

A number of suppliers have reportedly stopped transacting with the city jail because payments normally took a year.

Dominador Calamba III, regional CHR director, said a team will look into the inmates’ complaints.

"We will evaluate all their statements, although I suspect they only want more comfort," Calamba said.

But inmates supporting Baretto held a prayer rally in the jail premises last Sunday, insisting he was only a victim of a smear campaign.

Aside from the food allocation, other inmates also complained about alleged special treatment given to certain prisoners at the Davao City jail whose officials, in turn, have similarly denied the allegation.