Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
The Malabon City Jail warden was relieved from his post after persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) staged a protest over poor treatment and dirty food in the facility on Friday, June 23.
Authorities at the city jail said that inmates broke window glasses and threw things out of the prison while raising placards stating “Ibaba si Warden (bring warden down),” “kanin may bubog (rice with pieces of broken glass),” “Bulok ang sistema, gutom preso (The system is rotten, prisoners are hungry).”
Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval went to the facility to talk to the PDLs’ relatives.
The scene at the Malabon City Jail after protesting inmates broke glass windows and threw things outside the prison on June 23, 2023. Members of the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) arrived in the area to secure the facility. At least 847 prisoners are detained in the city jail. (Juan Carlo de Vela/ MANILA BULLETIN)
According to the relatives, the inmates were treated poorly.
“Yung pagkain po talaga nila baboy talaga, ‘yung kanin po lata na hilaw pa (The foods that were given to them was dirty and the rice was still uncooked),” they said.
“Walang kalasa lasa, kahit po hayop hindi kakain non (The food doesn’t even have a taste, even animals wouldn’t eat that),” they added.
In an interview with Manila Bulletin, Mayor Sandoval said the decision on the case of the warden will be handled by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
“Mag-iimbestiga muna dun sa mga grievances nung ating preso sa loob, at magkakaroon sila ng desisyon afterwards (They will first investigate the grievances of our prisoners inside, and they will have a decision afterwards),” she added.
Sandoval also confirmed that the warden was relieved from his post.
“Pero as of now, na-relieve na siya at may kapalit na (But as of now, he is relieved and has a replacement),” she said.
Meanwhile, Malabon City Police Station (MCPS) said two inmates were transferred to Bicutan City Jail.
According to the authorities, no inmates were able to escape during the protest. — Hannah Nicol
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Credit belongs to : www.mb.com.ph
