Stricter safety measures up in North Cotabato jail; manhunt continues for other escapees

Stricter safety measures up in North Cotabato jail; manhunt continues for other escapees (Photo: Simon Brass/Flickr)

KIDAPAWAN CITY—The newly designated jail warden of the North Cotabato District Jail on Tuesday vowed to improve security measures in the jail facility to avoid another jail break or jail attack.

“Safety measures are already in the pipeline and in fact, being implemented now,” Chief Inspector Jesus Singson, acting NCDJ warden, told reporters after he replaced beleaguered Jail Supt. Peter John Bongngat Jr.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mike Sueno relieved Bongngat and Senior Superintendent Alberto Balauag, BJMP Central Mindanao Director, upon the recommendation of the North Cotabato Special Action Committee (SAC).

North Cotabato acting Gov. Shirlyn Macasarte-Villanueva, who chairs the SAC, recommended the relief of jail officials to ensure an impartial investigation on the January 5 jail attack that left 10 persons killed, including a jail officer, and the escape of 158 inmates.

Pursuit operations are still going on in North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces for about 90 inmates who remained at- large. Of the 158 escapees, 60 have been accounted for

Singson said additional jail officers will be deployed to augment the jail’s manpower in securing about 1,450 inmates.

North Cotabato Board Member Soc Pinol has recommended to the provincial board to pass a resolution that seeks to transfer the jail facility to a more secure area in the province and away from the provincial capitol grounds.

He also suggested to Sec. Sueno that “high risks” inmates be transferred from the district jail to Bicutan in Taguig to avoid similar attacks in the future.

Since 2007, the jail facility, located about two kilometers from the Amas provincial capitol grounds, had been attacked thrice. Last week’s attack was the worst and with the biggest number of escapees.