CHECKING
LADY-PRISONERS. City social welfare officer Dr. Teresita Villafuerte (r) was
guided by jail warden J/CInsp. Neil Avisado (l) yesterday at the female inmate's
detention cell at the city rehabilitation center to check on the condition of
lady prisoners after reports that they were being maltreated by a jailguard. Foto
DANNY REYES
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - | | The
City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) office is now investigating on the
complaint of lewd acts and harassment of 17 female inmates against a male jailguard
at the City of Tagbilaran Rehabilitation Center (CTRC) in barangay Cabawan, this
city.
City
social welfare officer Dr. Teresita Villafuerte together with a Chronicle - dyRD
team went to the CTRC yesterday after receiving a copy of a letter from female
inmates regarding the alleged abuses of a jailguard whose identity was withheld
pending investigation.
The letter was sent to the top-rated dyRD "Inyong
Alagad" which narrated how female prisoners are being treated by the said
jailguard who touches their private parts everytime they make requests to go to
the jail's |
canteen
or anywhere within the prison's vicinity.In
exchange for favors, such as sending text messages to their relatives, the jailguard
allegedly forced the lady inmates to strip so he could touch their private parts.
Prisoners at the CTRC are not allowed to carry cellular phones in their
cells. | | | Newly
appointed CTRC warden J/CInsp. Neil Avisado said he had a "culture shock"
when he assumed as jail warden in November last year after former warden Supt.
Fortunato Cadungog retired.
Avisado
was appalled to note that male inmates have access to the ladies' cell.
Moreover,
there is only one lady jailguard that keeps watch of the female inmates.
This
lady guard renders her duty during daytime while male guards take over at night. |
Another
accusation made by the lady prisoners is that one male trustee-inmate is allegedly
given special treatment by the guards. This inmate had episodes of being drunk
and several times turned violent and was allowed by jailguards to enter their
cell.
At
one point, the trustee reportedly beat the lady inmates while the guards did not
do anything to stop and drag the former outside of the ladies cell.
In
their letter, the lady inmates disclosed that they were not allowed to report
these incidents to the newly appointed jail warden, J/CInsp. Avisado. The jailguards
allegedly threatened them against reporting the matter to the jail warden.
Villafuerte
said the jailguard would be liable for sexual assault or even rape if the accusations
are proven.
Yesterday,
city councilor George Olario who chairs the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) committee
on peace and order and protective services said he will immediately call for an
investigation when his committee meets today during their regular session.
Olario
said he will not hesitate to recommend for the dismissal of the guard if the allegations
are true.
NEW
WARDEN'S SIDE
Villafuerte
met with new jail warden Avisado and reported the allegations of the lady inmates.
Avisado
admitted he only knew of the alleged abuses when it was reported over station
dyRD.
He
assured to investigate and give due process to the accused guard.
The
warden also cited the overcrowding in the ladies' cell. The cell could only accommodate
less than 10 inmates, however, there are 17 lady inmates in one cell.
INNOVATIONS According
to Avisado, he has already requested for an additional lady guard while they are
also trying to fast-track the construction of separate cells for the lady prisoners
as he is aware of the dangers in the present set-up. | 
