LC Jail Inmates Reach 116

THE ILOCOS TIMES

July 18-24, 2011 Issue

LC jail inmates reach 116

BY DOMINIC B. DELA CRUZ

STAFF REPORTER

TOTAL INMATES at the Laoag City Jail has reached 116 as of July 21, 2011, city jail warden Roque Sison announced.

Sison added that the sudden increase in the number of inmates was due to the active police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operations against illegal drugs in Laoag which has resulted in the arrest of several persons.

Sison however stressed that the sudden spike upwards in the number of inmates at the city jail is still manageable considering that they have eight big cells for males and one cell for females. He stated further that the type of cells at the city jail could accommodate up to 300 inmates, but this number has never been reached, he added. City jail records show that inmates involved in drug-related cases make up the majority of detainees followed by theft and other cases.

THE ILOCOS TIMES also learned that nine inmates have been transferred to the National Bilibid Prison while one was moved to the National Center for Mental Health on July 15. The huge increase notwithstanding, Sison said the jail is still manageable and inmates are still given proper meals.

Meanwhile, Sison has proposed the construction of a multi-purpose hall and a separate female cell to the Laoag City government. The multi-purpose hall would serve as a venue for various activities and programs while the separate female cell would be to put some distance between the male and female cells. The present female cell is located in the same building where the male cells are and according to Sison, there is always the possibility of inmates having romantic relationships while they are detained.

Sison expressed hopes that the city government through Laoag Mayor Michael V. Fariñas would act favorably on these proposals. The mayor was recently awarded a plaque of merit by the Bureau of Jail and Management of the Philippines for his continuous support to the city jail.