Several persons deprived of liberty (PDL) at the Negros Occidental District Jail in Bago City staged a noise barrage at about 9 a.m. on Thursday, August 28, 2025.

The PDLs climbed to the roof their facility and flaunted their placards that called for the removal of their jail warden, referring to Jail Chief Inspector Atty. Crisyrel Awe who is only one month into his new post.

According to a group Kapatid Negros Occidental, from which families of PDLs have asked assistance, Awe is accused of injustice and irregularities in managing the jail facility.

In a petition letter signed by over 600 PDLs, they accused Awe of “harassment, intimidation, unjust isolation, padlocking and overpricing of products.”

The letter also cited that giving money to PDLs, by members of their respective family, has been prohibited.

"Itong Atty. Awe…the same rin ang reklamo sa kanya doon sa Dumaguete Jail last year. The same rin ang ipinatutupad niya sa NODJ (Negros Oriental District Jail). Sobrang mahal ng bilihin sa loob. Itong coupon system, magpapasok ka ng pera, ibibigay mo sa jail guard, dapat i-inform na may perang kukunin mula sa kaanak,” said Felipe Gelle, Kapatid Negros Occidental convenor.

GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas chanced upon members of the family of PDLs outside of the jail facility.

“Ang kanilang hinihingi maging open sana. May dala akong tinapay, hindi makapasok. Wala tayong magawa kasi yan ang patakaran nila dito,” alias “Ems,” a visitor of a PDL, said.

Another visitor is alias “Efren,” whose wife is a PDL.

“Naaawa ako sa asawa ko. Parang kritikal na, hindi na tulad ng dati,” Efren said.

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penoloy - Negros Island Region (BJMP-NIR) has answered a few of the allegations.

“Sa overpricing, yan ang purpose ng cashless system, mawala ang money involved sa jail para walang overpricing na mangyayari. Terminate the second store owned by the PDL. Ang cashless system is provided sa aming circular. Merong tutol and this situation happened,” according to Atty. Juniven Umadhay, chief of BJMP-NIR Legal Office.

However, Umadhay did not provide further answers to the other issues. Instead, he assured that other allegations will be investigated.

The jail warden did not grant the news team an interview, but it was learned that an internal investigation is underway. 

Meanwhile, BJMP-NIR has confirmed that a gun was hurled inside the jail facility on August 24, 2025, believed in preparation for the noise barrage.

“A posibility of a hostage situation was prevented dahil nakita ang firearm. There was a firearm wrapped in a packaging tape. It’s a homemade caliber 45. It can kill anyone. These are all connected,” Umadhay disclosed.