Two CPDRC officials to be asked to explain jail incidents at PB

TOP officials of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) will be asked to explain to the Provincial Board the recent spate of incidents that hit the Cebu provincial jail in the last few months.

Capitol consultant on jail matters Marco Toral and CPDRC Jail Warden Romeo Manansala will be invited to the Aug. 15 PB session to shed light on these jail incidents if PB Member Sun Shimura’s proposed resolution will be approved during this Monday’s PB session.

Shimura in his resolution wanted Toral and Manansala to explain the cases of deaths in the CPDRC last month, the escape of inmate Arnel Mait and Toral’s alleged firing of a gun with blank cartridge inside the facility because of some disobeying inmates.

Shimura, who heads the PB’s committee on public safety, peace and order, said the health condition of the inmates should be given appropriate attention and evaluation to prevent similar cases in the future.

Data from the CPDRC showed that in July, eight inmates died after suffering from various ailments while some health concerns of the inmates included difficulty in breathing. The CPDRC currently houses 2,992 inmates when its ideal capacity should only be 1,600.

“Aside from the health issues pertaining to CPDRC, the alleged neglect on the part of the jail management to prevent the escape of a certain Arnel Mait is indeed very much prejudicial to the interest of the Provincial Government of Cebu and of course to our justice system,” read Shimura’s proposed resolution.

Escape, firing of empty gun

Last month, Mait slipped past jail guards in broad daylight while pretending to be a visitor leaving the jail. Mait had a stamp on his arm which identified him as a visitor coming to visit an inmate in the jail and a visitor’s ID.

Shimura also wants clarification on the reports of Toral’s firing of a gun with a blank cartridge inside the jail.

Last week, the Cebu jail was also hit with another controversy when CPDRC officials were able to confiscate a laptop and two cellphones from the alleged “Cyberpornography Queen” Eileen Ontong and German national Thomas Michael Ruhland, who are reportedly still continuing their separate cyberpornography businesses even while they are detained in the CPDRC.

Gov. Hilario Davide III has already asked for an investigation into the matter and a formal explanation from the CPDRC officials on the incident.

When sought for comment, Toral said he would be ready to face the PB and to explain these incidents.

“I have no problem with that. I will just explain to them what happened. Anyway, for the escapee, we already have an ongoing manhunt,” he said.

As to the firing of the gun, Toral explained that it was only a stern warning to inmates to stop keeping contraband like cellphones and sharp objects inside their cells.

Toral also denied rumors that he has been told to pack his things due to the string of incidents in the CPDRC while under his watch.