Suspected drug lord Alvaro “Barok” Alvaro makes himself comfortable inside the isolation cell at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) in this June 23, 2016 file photo. (CDN FILE PHOTO)
Alvaro “Barok” Alvaro, one of Cebu’s alleged top drug lords, is now staying in a regular cell with other inmates in the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).
Marco Toral, Capitol consultant on jail matters, said Barok was transferred to the regular cell last Monday which was also his last day on his isolation cell.
“It has been a month since he was brought to the CPDRC. We are now treating him as any other inmate. Lain sad kung adto gihapon siya sa isolation cell, siya ra isa (It won’t also be good if he continues to stay at the isolation cell alone),” Toral said.
Like other inmates, Barok will soon do several things that other inmates do, including dancing.
“We will make him a dancing inmate. For real. He will be our star dancer. He is already practicing,” Toral said.
Toral said they already ruled out the possibility of death threats against Barok inside the facility.
He said during the past month that he stayed in the CPDRC, they haven’t heard any rumored or reported threats against him.
There were also no reported incidents of harassment or threats from other inmates against Barok.
“Nisugot raman pud siya (Barok also agreed),” he said.
Toral said Barok’s wife and children are now allowed to visit him in the facility.
But other visitors are still not allowed to see him. Toral said Barok shares one cell with 24 other inmates.
He said they are still being watched by jail guards. Their cell is nine by 20 feet big.
“Medyo naghuot gyud. Pero masigo ra sila gihapon (They’re already crowded but they still fit),” Toral said. He said the other cells have the same number of inmates.
Most of Barok’s cellmates are also undergoing trial on drug charges.
When he was detained at the CPDRC last June, he had his own cell with its own bathroom and its own closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera.
The National Bureau of Investigation refused to comment on Barok’s status, saying they already turned over the suspect to CPDRC.