IRC inmates stage noise barrage, want jail warden out
Inmates of the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) display placards calling for the ouster of provincial warden Atty. Sotelo Gardoce and provincial guard May Flor Cepeda.Inmates of the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) in Brgy. Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo held a noise barrage yesterday morning to call for the ouster of provincial warden Atty. Sotelo Gardoce and denounce the oppressive act of a lady jail guard.
The prisoners slammed the alleged inhuman policies of Gardoce and the repressive attitude of provincial guard May Flor Cepeda towards them.
Gardoce and Cepeda were allegedly responsible for all the changes in the jail management which the prisoners deemed as counterproductive on their part.
The lack of nutritious food and potable drinking water also form part of the inmates’ complaints in yesterday’s noise barrage.
The inmates said Gardoce curtailed their conjugal visiting rights which allowed their spouses to sleep at the reformatory center. They claimed under his management, Gardoce limits such privilege.
The operation of a cooperative store inside the rehabilitation center is also being contested by the inmates. The cooperative store became operational during Gardoce’s assumption. The inmates said the jail management controls the entry of goods brought by their visiting families to favor the cooperative store.
The insufficient food and lack of clean drinking water inside the jail is already a perennial problem inside the rehabilitation center. The provincial government has already increased the budget for the inmates, however, the same problem repeatedly occurs.
Worst, the inmates denounced the exploitation made by Cepeda to the prisoners. The jail guard allegedly utilized the inmates in her candle-making business. They do not receive the pay which commensurate their effort.
Cepeda, who also heads the dancing practice of the inmates, also recommends for the isolation of prisoners who refuse to join the practice.
In an interview over dySI Super Radyo, Gardoce said he is in “quandary” on the issues raised by the prisoners. Though, he admitted he has also shortcomings in the jail management.
On the issue of conjugal visiting rights, Gardoce admitted he limits the privilege to legal spouses of the inmates. In case of live-in partners, he requires a certification from the barangay captain as proof.
He said allowing the partners of the prisoner other than their spouse or long time live-in partners is conspiring with the prisoners in committing adultery or concubinage.
Gardoce admitted the cooperative store is a joint business venture of the jail guards based on his idea. He and the jail guards pooled their resources to operate a cooperative store.
He denied they controlled the entry of goods inside the IRC to force the inmates from purchasing their needs at the cooperative store. The entry of contrabands and prohibited goods are the ones being controlled by the jail guards.
On the issue on the unwarranted actuations of Cepeda towards the inmates, Gardoce said he has already installed a senior officer to act as the rehabilitation officer though Cepeda was not yet fully relieved of her function.
Cepeda, on her part denied she is exploiting the inmates in her candle-making business. She said that she provides the raw materials and is paying the inmates the “labor costs” on whatever they could make.
Cepeda defended the candle-making business inside the rehabilitation center is just a “transfer of technology” from her part to the prisoners. She claimed she is dealing with the prisoners fairly. Their families even availed of free candles during the All Soul’s Day.
However, the prisoners are not allowed to have their own candle-making business after they have learned the skill in candle-making while inside the prison. They remained as workers for Cepeda’s business. The prisoners accused Cepeda of raking profit using their labor force.
Further, Cepeda admitted she has to be strict in dealing with the prisoners particularly in instilling discipline towards them. She admitted having recommended the isolation of two inmates after they refused to join in the dance training.
The prison guard admitted her actuations are not perfect but she has to be strict to reform the prisoners. It is not easy to lead them in their daily exercise, dance trainings and nurturing them with their spiritual needs. It is very stressful, she said.
