Sueno wants additional jail guards, inspection in Manila City Jail

Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno has ordered the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to deploy additional personnel and conduct inspection at the Manila City Jail following the noise barrage there Thursday morning.

The noise barrage by inmates facing drug-related cases led to a commotion where 35 detainees and four jail personnel were injured.

Sueno directed BJMP Director Chief Supt. Serafin D. Barreto Jr to ensure that a follow-up prison inspection will be conducted inside the facility.

"We have to show them [inmates] that we will not relent in our efforts to rid the country of illegal drugs, including in jail facilities," Sueno said in a statement. "We do not tolerate such actions because there is a corresponding penalty if they will not abide by the rules."

The noise barrage was staged to protest the segregation of inmates with drug--related cases, the disbandment of gangs, and the dismantling of kubols or makeshift houses inside the jail facility.

Sueno said based on the report from Barreto and Manila City Jail Warden Supt. Gerald Bantag, it was the Batang City Jail members who instigated the noise barrage.

According to the report, only the Batang City Jail inmates protested the changes while Sigue-Sigue Sputnik, Commando, and other gangs followed the disbandment orders.

Barreto said the reforms are part of OPLAN RODY where the BJMP will rid all jails of scalawags, illegal drugs, contrabands and work for the disbandment of gangs.  

“The reason for the disbanding is , meron member ang gang nila na mga drug lords,  ito ay kanilang pinoprotektahan, kung kaya’t dapat idisband na yan mga pangkat or gangs sa mga piitan,” he added.

The total jail population of Manila City Jail is 3,900, wherein 2,085 have drug-related cases.  —KBK, GMA News