This Christmas Season: CPDRC sets 5 days visitation privilege

CEBU, Philippines — Instead of two days, inmates at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) will enjoy five days of Christmas and family day celebrations.

The provincial jail facility will be open from December 25 to 29.

CPDRC Assistant Warden Audesti Miguel said that this action is undertaken to ensure that security and order can be maintained within the premises by decongesting the visiting crowd.

Around 10,000 people are expected to troop to the jail during the five-day visitation schedule.

The visiting family and friends of the inmates will be accommodated at the quadrangle.

Miguel cautioned those who would be visiting that bringing of wrapped gifts are highly discouraged.

Should a visitor bring food, Miguel said, it should be cooked, not raw.  And these should be placed in a transparent plastic container and should not be mixed with the others.

Colored drinks are not allowed in the facility as well as bringing of napkins and diapers which can be used to sneak in contrabands.

Each inmate can have a maximum of three visitors. Meanwhile, the visitor can bring a maximum of five kilograms of items.

All items, whether gifts or food, will be checked by the guards before entry.

Visitors are obliged to comply with the procedure if they wish to get in. Miguel stressed out that the visitation is a "privilege," thus the management has the discretion to revoke it when something untoward happens.

He said that security will always remain their priority.

"We are open to possibilities as long as they would exhibit good behavior. This could be proof and basis that they deserve better opportunities," he said.

Miguel also said that CPDRC jail personnel will not be allowed to take a leave during the five-day activity.

Each visiting day has a corresponding schedule to decongest the visitors. On December 25, only visitors from cell numbers 1 to 25 can get in.

December 26 is for the visitors of the inmates in cell numbers 26 to 50. The 27th and 28th are scheduled for the visitors of the inmates in cell numbers 51 to 75 and 76 to 100, respectively.  The last day is for the guests of inmates in cell numbers 101 to 119.

Visiting hours will start at 8 a.m. and would end at 2 p.m.

There will be no noon breaks to ensure that the visitors can be accommodated.

Miguel also ensured that a security plan is already in place.

The CPDRC has requested the support of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to augment the security.

Miguel said that he will not allow the visitors to stay overnight.

"It will be a security nightmare if overnight. A lot of bad things could happen," he said.  (FREEMAN)