Pubdate: Sun, 26 Dec 2004 Source: Manila Times (Philippines) Copyright: 2004, The Manila Times Contact: http://www.manilatimes.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921 Author: Maricel V. Cruz, Reporter BILL IMPOSES TOUGH PENALTIES TO JAIL GUARDS NACIONALISTA Party Rep. Gilbert Remulla of Cavite has asked Malacaqang to certify as urgent his bill seeking to impose tough penalties on police officers and jail guards who assist in the escape of their prisoners and detainees. Remulla, chair of the House Committee on Public Information, made the call after the escape of another drug suspect in the custody of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) recently. Remulla said the escape of Chinese Li Zhong, alias James Mian, was made possible through the connivance of his custodians as he urged the PDEA to arrest all its personnel who are directly responsible for handling the agency's detention facility. "Suspending or relieving them from their assignment is not enough. They should be treated like the criminal whom they allowed to escape," Remulla said. In the past Congresses Remulla had filed a similar measure that would impose stiffer penalties against rogue and negligent personnel of the country's prison and detention facilities, but Congress failed to act on it until now. In October Remulla refiled House Bill 184, which if passed into law, would give more teeth to existing provisions of the Revised Penal Code which "governs the conduct of penal officials in handling prisoners and detained criminal suspects." The bill also seeks to increase the penalty for escapees and prisoners who attempt to escape from government custody. Among the salient feature of the bill is the suspension and/or dismissal of police officers or jail guards if they are proven in connivance with prisoners. Remulla said many prison personnel are emboldened to allow the escape of their prisoners in exchange for big money because the law is too soft in dealing with them. "The inadequacy in the penalty imposed on jail guards has led to the escape of some high-profile criminals like Li Zhong. Many of our prison personnel doesn't mind taking the risk of losing their jobs in exchange for hefty rewards from these criminals who are obviously well-financed and well-connected," Remulla said. He would make his request to Malacaqang, so that Congress can give priority to the deliberations on his proposal soon after the Yuletide break. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek