• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The petition for a writ of habeas corpus to return a person deprived of liberty, detained at the Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) Male Dormitory to their regular dormitory, was granted by the Regional Trial Court Branch 44.
The court ruled that the closed confinement of Lorenzo Perolino had unlawfully exceeded the period permitted by jail regulations, resolving to grant the petition filed against NODJ Jail Warden JSUPT Atty. Crisyrel Awe.
The petition, filed by Felipe Gelle Jr., alleged that Awe had illegally kept Perolino in isolation for more than 15 days as a sanction.
Perolino was placed in solitary confinement for allegedly leading the noise barrage last August 28.
His disciplinary actions included non-participation in recreational and educational activities for 30 days.
The Human Rights Advocates Negros (HRAN), along with the National Union of People’s Lawyer, asserted that the warden’s actions violated Perolino’s constitutional rights, Republic Act 7438, and the Nelson Mandela Rules.
HRAN reiterated its call for the BJMP to relieve Awe and conduct an investigation into alleged corruption at the jail commissary, where PDLs have complained of exorbitant prices.
The group also demanded prison reform, specifically calling for an increase in the PDL food budget from P70 to P100 and the medicine budget from P15 to P25.*
