Dumaguete jail inmates protest greyhound ops; City's BJMP guards cleared of HR breach

CEBU, Philippines - Inmates of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) at Barangay Bajumpandan in Dumaguete City, after protesting the conduct of Operation Greyhound on Monday dawn, yesterday apparently spared and cleared jail guards of the facility in the city from alleged manhandling and human rights violations.

The inmates earlier complained that some of them were were hurt and injured during the conduct of the surprise inspection of their cells, but did not blame the Dumaguete guards for their plight.

The statement was issued by the inmates, who pointed instead to “Ilongo-speaking” jailguards from the BJMP-Region 18 (Negros Island Region) as responsible for treating them like pigs and criminals.

The BJMP-18 guards from Negros Occidental allegedly pointed their automatic rifles to the inmates, ordered them to vacate the cells and to take off their upper garments, as early as 4 a.m. Monday.

The Dumaguete City Health Office was scheduled to conduct a medical examination today to determine the degree of hematoma and contusions sustained by more than 10 inmates to support their complaint against the regional jail guards.

Reports have it that one of the injured inmates is related to a high ranking elected official of Dumaguete City.

Commission on Human Rights-Negros Oriental special investigator Jess Cañete said he had reasons to believe the narrations of the inmates, who he had interviewed about what transpired during the Operation Greyhound based on the physical appearance of their injuries.

Cañete made it clear, the CHR will not allow the earlier incident in Cebu to happen in Negros Oriental, at least in his area of jurisdiction, warning jail personnel that he will bring this matter to the highest level of the BJMP and will be closely monitoring this case.

Cañete had already asked for the names of the more than 50 jailguards from BJMP-18 who accompanied their  regional director, Senior Superintendent Hernan Grande during the operations. He added that he will let them answer the allegations.

They maybe detention prisoners, others may call them criminals, the more jailguards should respect their positions. (FREEMAN)