■ CEBU CITY MAYOR TOMAS OSMEÑA THREATENS TO STOP GIVING FOOD ALLOWANCE FOR INMATES UNLESS BJMP 7 LETS CITY OVERSEE CATERING
Jail warden says BJMP’s budget for the prisoners’ food will be delayed, expresses concern that this might lead to starvation and possible riot inside the facility.
The mayor’s pronouncement came after Jail warden Arnel Peralta wrote him, asking for the City Government’s help because the release of the inmates’ allowance from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 7 (BJMP) will be delayed starting next month due to the increase in the number prisoners. The facility presently houses 4,772 inmates. This is almost three times more than its maximum capacity of 1,700. Each inmate has a daily meal allowance of P60, which means that BJMP spends P8.6 million a month for their food. But Mayor Osmeña is wary about giving cash aid to jail officers because they refuse to be audited.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said yesterday that no funds will be allocated to augment the subsistence allowance of the close to 5,000 inmates inside the Cebu City Jail, unless the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) 7 will let City Hall takeover the food management inside the facility.
In a letter to Osmeña dated Aug. 2, Jail Warden Arnel Peralta asked for help from the City Government because there will be a delay in the release of BJMP’s budget for subsistence allowance starting next month due to the increase of inmate committals.
“It would be of great help on the part of our clients, considering their daily basic needs and their operational problems,” reads a portion of the letter.
The facility presently houses 4,772 inmates. This is three times its maximum capacity of 1,700.
Each inmate has a daily meal allowance of P60, which means that BJMP spends P8.6 million a month for their food.
Peralta said the delay on the budget release would mean a fund shortage of P34.4 million in the next four months.
He said this may lead to starvation and possible riot inside the jail if not addressed.
But Osmeña said he is wary about giving financial assistance to BJMP since they refused to be audited.
“Why give money to fund corruption? Here’s what I propose. I’ll handle everything,” he told reporters yesterday.
Should BJMP agree with his proposal, Osmeña said he will let Barangay Kalunasan handle the catering services for the inmates to address both the livelihood needs of the residents and concerns on starvation among prisoners.
“That way, there’s check and balance. BJMP can also see that the money is properly spent,” he said. /