• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
Following the eight-hour noise barrage protest conducted by the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City on Thursday, Jail Warden Chief Insp. Atty. Crisyrel Awe has voluntarily stepped down from his position, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Negros Island Region (BJMP-NIR) confirmed Thursday afternoon.
According to BJMP-NIR, Jail Senior Insp. Raymond Aro will take over the office as the officer-in-charge of the detention facility.
The initiative was taken by Awe to avoid conflicts and not influence the results of the ongoing investigation regarding the complaints and allegations of the inmates against him.
“JCInsp. Awe voluntarily stepped down from his position as Acting Jail Warden in order not to influence the outcome of the investigation being conducted against him and also to bring out the truth regarding the complaints filed against him,” BJMP-NIR stated in a press release on the afternoon after the protest.
Almost 600 inmates had signed a petition to replace Awe, raising allegations of harassment, maltreatment, and overpricing inside the penal facility.
The issue of overpricing of necessities inside the jail came after the management under Awe allegedly abolished the PDL cooperative inside the facility. Another complaint is against the cashless and coupons rule imposed by the warden, allegations that were denied by the BJMP-NIR, citing that the same rules were imposed on all detention facilities in the country.
Heated moments between the PDLs and the management sparked after an alleged ‘gun-throwing’ incident on Sunday morning.
After the stepping down of Awe, Human Rights Advocates Negros urged the BJMP to conduct a deep investigation on the rules imposed by Awe on the inmates.
“BJMP must pursue the investigations as alleged in petitions, review the cashless system, and if reforms are needed to make it more beneficial to the PDL, raise the funds allocated for food,” it said in a post.
HRAN also said that Negros Occidental Acting Governor Jose Benito Alonso listened to the plight of the PDLs, as narrated by their families, who were also present and protesting outside the detention facility.
ENDED PEACEFULLY
The BJMP-NIR affirmed on Thursday afternoon that the eight-hour noise barrage protest by the inmates had ended peacefully at around 4:30 p.m.
“[The protest ended] on the same day with no injuries recorded in any personnel or persons deprived of liberty (PDL) during the incident, and normal jail operations also ensued,” BJMP-NIR said.
“This comes after the Acting Jail Warden JCInsp. Crisyrel Awe voluntarily stepped down from his position in order to give way to a pending investigation regarding the complaints raised by the PDL against the jail management,” it added.
Following the BJMP’s appointment of the new officer-in-charge to manage the detention facility, BJMP-NIR Director JCSupt. Brendan Fulgencio released a statement to the media.
“It is our desire to end the situation peacefully without any injuries to any persons, PDL or personnel – and without any damage to government property. In any situation, it is the safety and welfare of PDL and personnel that is the primary consideration in any of our decisions as jail officers,” he stated.
Moreover, HRAN commends the courage of inmates in NODJ and their families for winning the fight for their rights in the recent peaceful but militant action.
“Clearly it shows that in united actions rights are upheld, asserted, and defended,” it said in a post.*
