3 jail guards face suspension over inmate's stabbing
Three jail guards in the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) face suspension for actions deemed by Senior Superintendent Ricardo Dela Paz as clear lapses of jail responsibility.
In a two-paged report obtained by The News Today (TNT), Senior Supt. Dela Paz identified the jail guards as Provincial Guard (PG) III Romel Pasquin, PG II Rene Monares and PG II Julius Bangero.
The trio was held liable for the easy attack made by two inmates on yet another inmate Rape suspect Ronald Lurica. Lurica's attackers were murder suspect Joemarie Desilao and pal, Cornelio Huesca who stands accused of homicide.
The incident occurred during the dinner food ration at the IRC mess hall last February 27. The victim sustained stab wounds and was treated at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital acknowledged by Dela Paz as the reason that "prolonged" Lurica's life.
Recovered thereafter in the crime scene were one improvised 9-inched 'knife' from a sharpened spoon and a small scissor.
A clear lapse from the jail guards on duty comprised of PG III Pasquin, PG II Monaresand PG II Bangero for despite the customary frisking "still the inmates were able to produce weapons."
"Based on the foregoing facts and circumstances presented, the undersigned opines that the stabbing of inmate Ronald Lurica was perpetrated because of the lapses of the guards on duty to secure individually the inmates," excerpts of the report went. Dela Paz likewise took note of the possible source of the 'weapons' pointing to IRC visitors. "That the visitors going in and out of the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) are probably not properly checked or inspected by the duty guards which resulted to the leakage or production of improvised knife or some items that could be used as a weapon that could harm the inmates and the members of the guards as well."
Further still, Dela Paz decried the lack of jail security inside the IRC mess hall during meal times.
"It could be presumed that a stabbing incident could have been prevented if there were guards that observes/watches the inmates," the report added.
The report awaits approval of Governor Niel Tupas Sr.