CPDRC inmates worry over Toral’s resignation

INMATES of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) have expressed worry over the resignation of Capitol consultant on jail matters Marco Toral.

Lito Granada, the designated “mayor” of the close to 3,000 inmates at the CPDRC, said Toral has helped them so much.

“We’re worried because our consultant has been encouraging us inmates. We’re very much in grief because whenever we have problems, we can easily approach him,” he said in Cebuano.

“It was different before in terms of our food, our privileges, including allowing family visitors to stay overnight as well as the livelihood programs,” he added.

Toral submitted his resignation to Gov. Hilario Davide III last Monday due to “personal reasons.”

Davide explained that Toral, who’s been the CPDRC consultant since 2013, couldn’t handle the pressure anymore especially after the recent incidents, including the escape of an inmate, the deaths of several inmates and the continued presence of contraband like cellphones and laptop inside the facility.

Granada said they have initiated a signature campaign expressing their opposition to Toral’s resignation and the suspension of visits inside the CPDRC which started last month. He said they gathered more than 2,000 signatures which they submitted to Davide’s office last Monday afternoon.

Granada also defended Toral against rumors that he allowed the proliferation of contraband inside the jail including illegal drugs. In fact, Granada said Toral was always conducting searches in the inmates’ cells.

CPDRC Jail Warden Romeo Manansala assured that Toral’s resignation won’t affect the management of the facility. He said they were now investigating the jail guards over irregularities inside the jail and if proven guilty, they would be reassigned to other areas.