Probe looms over alleged loan racket, hazing at Dagupan City Jail

An investigation looms over alleged irregularities such as loaning rackets and hazing inside the Dagupan City Jail in Pangasinan.

The alleged irregularities were bared in letters from an inmate and from the mother of another inmate, GMA Dagupan's Jette Arcellana reported on "24 Oras North Central Luzon."

But jail warden Atty. Kenneth Bid-ing denied the claims, saying loans are not allowed since the food inside the jail is free.

"So wala silang paggagamitan ng pera para umutang," he said.

For now, a disciplinary board composed of inmates' leaders and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology representatives is being eyed to look into the claims.

"Hindi natin tinatago yan kung meron at para mabigyan natin ng aksyon," Bid-ing said.

In the letter, the inmate claimed cigarettes were being sold inside the jail for P30 per stick.

Also, the inmate named five personalities nicknamed Budong, Changlong, Pasngadan, Laconsay, and Bise Mayor as those involved in the supposed loan racket.

The inmate claimed the loans involved high interest rates. Inmates who cannot pay were allegedly subjected to hazing or were beaten up.

However, Bid-ing said an initial check showed the loan racket was merely among the inmates, and that he had already ordered a stop to it.

"Siyempre ang trabho ng mga yan (BJMP employees), purely security at safekeeping at escorting, wala nang iba. Ilang linggo ko pinaimbestigahan yan at ang lumutang inmate ang nagpapautang kaya binawalan ko uli," he said.

"Hinahamon ko sila, pwede tayo magpadala at kahit sino pwede magpadala ng medical doctors sa loob ng bilangguan. Isa-isahin natin sila at tingnan natin kung tama nga ang nasa sulat na yan," he said. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News