Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos has ordered an immediate investigation into the noise barrage staged by persons deprived of liberty clamoring over an alleged lack of food at a district jail in Iloilo City.
The DILG chief disclosed that he tasked Bureau of Jail Management and Penology chief Allan Iral to conduct a swift probe into the alleged maltreatment of PDLs and temporarily relieve Jail Chief Inspector Norberto Miciano from his post to give way to an impartial investigation.
He made the order after around 100 PDLs staged a protest on the rooftop of Iloilo District Jail in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo City, and demanded the ouster of the facility’s warden.
Abalos also asked BJMP Western Visayas director Jail Chief Supt. Russel Tangeres to attend to the concerns of the PDLs and ensure that they are provided with adequate food and other necessities.
He assured that the DILG remains committed to ensuring the humane safekeeping of PDLs in the city, district, and municipal jails under its supervision.
“We will continue to undertake measures to improve jail services and jail facilities to help in the rehabilitation of PDLs and their eventual reintegration into society,” Abalos said.
Meantime, BJMP spokesperson Jail Chief Supt. Xavier Solda said they are already looking into the concern.
According to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office report, the protest started around 8:35 a.m. and ended around 3:23 p.m. after a series of negotiations on Wednesday, 24 August.
In a press conference on Wednesday, BJMP spokesperson Jairus Dogelio took the chance to climb to the roof of their administration building while they were preparing for their regular Mass held weekly.