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Tension
gripped the crowded Bohol Detention and Rehabilitation Center
(BDRC) when most of its 301 inmates staged a riot Monday morning
destroying 25 cells.
This
aggravated the situation following last Sunday afternoon's
hostage-taking by inmates of their visitors. Thorough and
stringent inspection by BDRC officials on visiting relatives
of inmates were seen as reasons for staging untoward reactions.
BDRC
Information officer Felix Cempron, in an interview, said the
violent move prompted BDRC officials led by Col. Raul Mendez,
OIC provincial warden, to order "to shoot" incase
inmates take to the fence.
Order
was finally restored yesterday at the Bohol Detention and
Rehabilitation Center (BDRC) following a three-day standoff
among 301 inmates and their prison guards.
The
inmates, who initially demanded for a more lenient policy
of allowing visitors into the BDRC, agreed to peacefully return
to their detention cells but demanded for the removal from
office of Mendez.
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Mendez,
in an interview with the Chronicle yesterday, said the
situation is fully under control and that nobody was
hurt.
The
3-day tension at the rehabilitation facility ignited
Sunday afternoon when some relatives of prisoners were
not allowed to go inside the jail premises for lack
of identification.
Jail
guards allegedly tightened security checks without informing
the inmates and their visitors.
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This
was however denied by Mendez. The jail superintendent said
notices of their "no ID, no entry" policy have been
posted at the BDRC gates for quite some time now.
"It's
always standard procedure for security inspections in facilities
such as the BDRC," Mendez said, and that he is "implementing
the rules and regulations prescribed for proper jail management."
The
inmates were having their "open house" at the BDRC
last Sunday when they decided to strike.
The
prisoners destroyed iron sliding bars, which served as doors,
of the 31 detention cells and held hostage some 25 visitors
who were inside the rehabilitation facility.
Jail
guards had to lock secondary gates going to the detention
cells as prisoners refused to assemble for a head count and
started throwing stones at them.
The
prisoners agreed to negotiate Monday morning with Provincial
Legal Officer Atty. Handel Lagunay.
The
talks ended yesterday with the prisoners agreeing to allow
personnel from the General Services Office (GSO) to assess
the damage of the detention cells.
Mendez
said repairs will start immediately, as assured by GSO head
Engr. Rosalindo Yu who personally inspected the BDRC.
In
a press statement dated April 13, 2008 from BDRC, the inmates
said they launched a noise barrage and refused routine counting
and check.
The
statement signed by 12 Council of Elders of the inmates, accused
Mendez of non-compliance of the agreed rules and regulations
on inspection of visitors.
The
inmates wanted Mendez relieved for various reasons.
Inmates
have cited coup d' etat in accusing Mendez for bringing in
military men when he assumed office.
Mendez
and his prison guards are accused of being "insensitive"
in the inspection procedure.
But
Cempron defended the procedure as precautionary against trafficking
of illegal drugs and other contraband into the facility.
Earlier,
BDRC leadership is accused of playing "favorites"
because some of the inmates were given privileges like dwelling
in a "special cottage" outside the cells to the
envy of the inmates. But this was denied by the BDRC officials.
Asked
on formerly warring inmates' organizations, Cempron said the
groups are now united under the name "Batman" brotherhood.
Mendez,
in a separate interview, denied all the allegations, saying
he has been following tasks as ordered by the governor.
He
theorized plans by political prisoners to put Bohol in bad
light as the province plays host to the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation gathering starting today.
He
added that a "little tension" still exist as inmates
can freely tarry in cells and wander as far as the quadrangle
after breaking down the cell divisions.
NEW
WARDEN SOUGHT
Among
the main demands of the inmates was for the replacement of
Mendez.
When
asked to comment on the prisoners' demand for his ouster,
Mendez said he expected their response to his stringent administration
policies.
An
elder/leader of the "Batman" group at the BDRC told
the Chronicle that they want Mendez out since his policy on
visitations is unreasonable.
Of
301 inmates at BDRC, 15 are women.
According
to the inmates, they do not have complaints regarding their
food and some provisions.
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