Slay-try on inmate triggers SP probe on IRC operations
A legislative investigation is underway on the over-all operations of the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC), the biggest and most-modern government jail facility in Western Visayas.
Pushed by First District Board Member Richard Garin, chair of the Committee on Public Order and Security, the probe was triggered by the recent murder attempt on the life an inmate.
Garin in a First Indorsement submitted the request to Vice Governor Rolex Suplico, Presiding Chair of the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP).
Lead committee will be the Committee on Public Order and Security alongside other line committees with the main objective – "find out the lapses in procedures and security precautions in the IRC."
"The result of such investigation may then help institute corrective measures to prevent or avoid similar incidents in the future," the Indorsement went. "The investigation as sought further aims at getting a clearer and comprehensive look on the IRC operations since its transfer to Pototan, Iloilo."
With construction works pegged at over P70 million in government allocations, IRC management has since been rocked with numerous jailbreaks and in-house crime incidents.
The latest that occurred last month had rape suspect 44 year-old Ronald Lorica as the victim of a murder attempt. Suspects were cellmates Cornelio Huesca and Joemari Desilao with an old grudge as the reported motive.
It was also in February last year when the IRC had a major jailbreak of three murder suspects. Two of the escapees were eventually recaptured following province-wide manhunt yet to date, one remains at large.
Other IRC incidents include an October 2007 jailbreak of a teener detainee, widely-covered noise barrage of inmates and the infamous hospitalizations of inmates.
It was in July of 2006 when two inmates inspired by the healing wonders of rubbing alcohol concocted an original recipe for an after dinner cocktails. The in-house experiment resulted to a near toxic-episode that had the two desperate "bartenders" hospitalized for intense stomach pains.
The victims then were 20 year-old Mark Lance of Dingle, Iloilo and Mark Tingson of Cabatuan, Iloilo both rushed by IRC guards to the hospital for emergency treatment. Both behind bars for murder, Lance and Tingson were feared to have been dehydrated from continuous bouts of vomiting when discovered by jail authorities.
Within minutes and halfway to their consumed experimental drink, the effect was felt by the two. Other than very bruised egos, Lance and Tingson made a full recovery.
Another recent medical treatment on a number of inmates was the spread of a contagious skin disease blamed on contaminated water.