Cebu new BBRC scheme set

The changing of the guards has transpired for the eighth time in a span of one year at the anomaly-ridden Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center but the movement appears to have fallen short of the presidential directive.

In a system-wide change in jail management, all BBRC officials were sacked and replaced with Bureau of Jail Management and Penology officials ostensibly to comply with a sweeping directive that President Arroyo issued last Saturday.

But while the replacements were complied with, none of the movements yesterday designated a policeman even as a temporary replacement. Instead, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Marius Corpuz issued guidelines yesterday of a BJMP-Philippine National Police tandem where the BJMP will take care of day-to-day jail management while the police will render assistance.

BJMP regional director Reynaldo Berdin and Regional Police Chief Rolando Garcia however still have to discuss the specifics of the guidelines and the number of police to be deployed at the jail.

During a nationwide televised forum with barangay officials, the President ordered DILG Secretary Jose Lina to immediately relieve and suspend all BBRC personnel and have them replaced temporarily by policemen.

The announcement of the president came after she was told of the litany of anomalies at the jail. In taking aim at cleaning out these anomalies, Arroyo fired everyone connected with the controversial jail.

As of yesterday, Superintendent Mamerto Baroro formally took over as jail warden, replacing Primitivo Benitez who is now assigned as regional chief of staff of BJMP.

Moved out were Chief Inspector Waldemar Villanueva, Inspectors Emmanuel Manawag and Abraham Arevalo. All three are now being assigned as wardens in other areas of the province and the Visayas. Villanueva is warden of Tagbilaran City Jail, Manawag of Siaton, Negros Oriental District Jail and Arevalo of Minglanilla. Inspector Richard Kho was transferred to the BJMP regional office.

Moving in are Chief Inspector Jose Moring as BBRC’s second in command, Inspector Leonardo Lagos, Danilo Perez and SJO4 Abraham Macasil. Perez was pulled out of his detail at the Danao City Jail while Macasil was also pulled out from Carcar jail.— Freeman News Service