Pubdate: Wed, 16 Mar 2005
Source: Mindanao Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Mindanao Times.
Contact:  http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2980
Author: JGD
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

TIGHT SECURITY AT CITY JAIL

An official of the city jail said special operation procedures in
guarding and handling detainees with serious charges at the city jail
are fully enforced.

This assurance came after the attempted jailbreak of the Abu Sayyaf
members in Bicutan, Taguig City, Metro Manila two days ago. The
detainees seized the firearms of the three jailguards prior to the
attempted jailbreak which happened at the time when the detainees
were served breakfast.

Supt. Allan Iral, city jail warden, said the cooking and distribution
of food at the city jail are done by detainees who serve as food
service assistants.

"This is to avoid taking personnel as hostage during food service," he
said.

Iral said their detainees are segregated according to the level of
threats and charges that they face.

"They wear specific blue shirt labeled food service assistant  as
uniform so that when they serve food, we can easily identify them," he
said.

He said no jail personnel has direct contact with the
prisoners.

Iral assured that all firearms are accounted for and distributed among
his personnel.

"We no longer use an armory because it is the primary target of
prisoners during jail breaks," he said.

Iral noted that long detention due to the pending cases and
congestion are the problems affecting the detainees at the city jail.

"It is a common problem.  There are drug detainees here whose last
hearing was in 1996.  There are those whose cases would still be heard
next year," he said.  Iral stressed these problems mirror the problem
of lack of personnel not only at the Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology, but also lack of judges and prosecutors at the Department of
Justice. 
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