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BDRC stabilized after riot;
Contractor may face suit
By: KIT BAGAIPO
ALL DOWN. These are but two segments
of the steel cell partitions at BDRC ripped down by inmates
during last week's three-day standoff. Foto DANNY REYES
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Situation
has been stabilized at the Bohol Detention and Rehabilitation
Center (BDRC) on Tuesday following a three-day standoff
among 301 inmates and prison guards.
Meanwhile,
Gov. Erico Aumentado is slated to have a dialogue with
jail inmates' representatives this morning after a Holy
Mass at the BDRC. He said that while he believes in
the administration of Jail Warden Raul Mendez, he will
listen to the inmates' grievances.
The
inmates who destroyed all sliding iron bars to their
detention cells called for the replacement of the jail
superintendent.
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Although
repairs have started since Wednesday, a Capitol official revealed
to the Chronicle that the contractor of the BDRC could be
sued for breach of warranty.
An
inspection at the BDRC made by the General Services Office
(GSO) showed that the detention cells were constructed with
sub-standard materials.
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According
to the Capitol official, if the jail is indeed structurally
defective and failed to meet the standard expected for
such a facility, the contractor could be liable for
damages.
The
BDRC inmates, who initially demanded for a more lenient
policy of allowing visitors into the BDRC, agreed to
peacefully return to their detention cells Tuesday morning
but demanded for the ouster of Mendez.
Mendez,
in an interview with the Chronicle said the situation
is fully under control and that nobody was hurt during
the 3-day riot.
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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.
In
an open letter to the governor, the jail's Council of Elders
said that security check is so tight at the BDRC that their
visitors are discouraged to go there.
The
elders claimed that body checks are conducted and some visitors
are even made to strip down their clothes.
The
jail guards allegedly make lewd comments of visitors during
body checks, the elders claim in the open letter.
"Our
visitors feel harassed and embarrassed," the elders said
of the new policy employed by Mendez at the BDRC.
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 Tuesday with the prisoners agreeing to allow personnel
from the GSO, led by Engr. Rosalinda Yu, to assess the damage
of the detention cells.
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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