BJMP-8 director ousted

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The escape of an inmate, under the custody of jail guards of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, while waiting for his hearing at the Baybay City Regional Trial Court, also caused the ouster of Senior Superintendent Edwin Riel, from his post as regional director of the BJMP-8.

This came after the relief of Baybay City Jail warden Inspector Lourdes Noveda, under the doctrine of command responsibility, and the three jail guards who escorted the inmate at the time of the escape.

Tacloban City Jail Warden, Superintendent Peter Bongat–concurrent administrator of the BJMP-Leyte province–said the  relief of Riel was primarily in connection of his violation of the bureau's three-strike policy, which would oust a regional director automatically if there is a jailbreak for three consecutive times.

Since Riel assumed office in February, three inmates escaped from the jails under BJMP-8: first in Palo, then in Ormoc City, and the last and recent one in Baybay City. The first two escapees have been recaptured but the third one remains at large to this day.

Senior Superintendent Felixberto Jagurin Jr. was appointed to replace Riel, who was reassigned as director of the Inmate Welfare and Development division of the BJMP national headquarters. (FREEMAN)