INMATES ACCIDENT: A Jail guard checks on their damaged service vehicle that carries fifteen (15) CPDRC inmates, meet an accident after the driver losses control in Sibonga town. The inmates on their way to their respective hearings in the south when the accident happened. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
FOLLOWING the accident involving a prisoner transport vehicle in Sibonga, Provincial Jail Consultant Marco Toral said they are planning to ask Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III to provide a new service vehicle for the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).
He said the seven transport vehicles that the Cebu provincial government has provided for the use of the inmates are already “old and not totally in good condition.”
“Nagplano mi nga mosuwat og Purchase Request pero mao nay ilang storya nga wala pa gyud budget (We are planning to write a Purchase Request, but they say there is still no budget),” he said.
Toral said the Fuso Canter service vehicle that figured in an accident yesterday (see related story) was already 25 years old.
Inmates, guards injured. (CDN/TONEE DESPOJO)
He said the vehicle had been abandoned in the motor pool after it figured in an accident several years back.
Toral said he asked the Provincial General Services Office that they be allowed to repair the vehicle and use it.
Toral said the vehicle was in good condition when it left the jail at 7:09 a.m. yesterday.
Davide, for his part, said the provincial government is willing to provide a new vehicle. But he said he will need to determine the necessity first.
“They are fixing the old vehicles there, even the old vehicles of former governor (Emilio) Osmeña ilang gipadagan, maoy gigamit tawn nila. Mao nang mga truck nga dagko, giayo gyod na nila but kon nagkinahanglan pa gyod, we may buy another one for them,” the governor said. (They’re using even the old vehicles of former governor Osmeña. They repaired the big trucks. But if they still need another vehicle, we may buy another one for them.)
Toral also said they were still waiting for Capitol to respond to a request for an ambulance.
“Ang atong mga inmates nagsuwat silag letter, requesting for ambulance, naa man goy inmates nga tabangonon kaayo.
Hopefully matagaan pod unta ba (Our inmates wrote a letter addressed to the governor requesting for an ambulance because there are inmates who need to go to the hospital. We’re hopeful that it will be given to us),” he said.
Aside from the Canter, other service vehicles of the provincial jail are one Orange Army truck from the 71st Infrantry Division, a jeepney that was transformed into an ambulance, three Kia vans and one Isuzu dump truck that was improved.
Toral said these are all used vehicles, but they make sure these are in good condition when they use them.
Two inmates, who are also mechanics, and their helpers check the vehicles daily.
“Na-timingan lang jod to gahapon (It just happened that the brake malfunctioned yesterday),” Toral said.