Napulan signals alarm on plight of IRC inmates
Calls on probe of catered meals
What do the men of Magellan and the inmates at the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) have in common? Strength, courage and beriberi.
That is, if history books are to be believed and the current medical condition of hundreds of inmates at the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) is to be considered.
Such was yesterday’s basic reaction generated by the privilege speech of First District Board Member Macario Napulan. A “medical history” too, as Vice Governor Rolex Suplico noted.
Napulan spoke on the matter of last week’s hospitalization of 23 inmates as he signaled the alarm for a deeper look into the health conditions of hundreds of others here.
“Alarming” was how he summed up the situation contrary to the “not alarming” stance of top Iloilo Provincial Government officials.
In a privilege speech, Napulan made public and official his first-hand check on the IRC inmates in a chance visit.
“I had the opportunity to see up close and personal these inmates at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital. And it was one sorry sight. Swollen faces. Swollen feet. Swollen stomachs. Similar manifestations and what do these men have in common? They were and are fully dependent on IRC meals rations served by the caterer,” Napulan began. “Thus, it is sensible to conclude – the food served to them lacking B1 or Thiamine made them sick of Beriberi. It is very interesting to note that inmates receiving supplemental food from their families outside of the IRC does not get sick of Beriberi.”
Napulan then went ahead to appeal, “Please… we cannot allow another mortality” as he revealed the outcome of his visit. Napulan as per personal check discovered similar severe symptoms on some 40 other inmates warning thereafter that with continued set-up, “there will be more deaths... more fatalities.”
“Inmates experiencing constant numbness, constant tingling sensation likened to being pricked by needles and pins at their fingertips and weakness that prevent most of them to be physically active. Mere walking the distance of the IRC halls weakens them. There is also lack of appetite, sleeplessness and stomach pains. Some have three or four of the said symptoms while others have all,” Napulan continued. “While certainly we cannot expect or demand a full-balanced meal at the IRC with meager government resources at that, what we need is imagination and serious meal-planning here. These are human beings getting very sick and dying… we cannot allow the men and women there to be subjected to these inhumane living conditions. We must not allow this most modern and most expensive jail facility in the region to be the modern-day, modern-age concentration camp.”
Napulan then went on to point out that inmates at the IRC have yet to be convicted of the crimes charged thus rallying colleagues not to “forsake” the inmates.
“With millions poured in here and millions more for its upkeep and maintenance, the least we can do is ensure effective safekeeping and rehabilitation of offenders through educational, therapeutic, productive and restorative principles,” he continued. “Surely, there must be a way to make them productive. And keep them from getting very sick and dying.”
In an interview, Napulan said he will push for a probe if only to come up with immediate solutions at the IRC. “We need to act on this… and act now,” he said.