OSMEñA: CITY HALL WON’T HELP CEBU CITY JAIL

Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center says it may purchase commercial rice, following the shortage NFA rice

Despite reports of rice shortage in the Cebu City Jail, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the City Government will not extend assistance of any kind to the facility.

In an interview, Osmeña said the problem should be addressed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), not the City Hall.

“That’s the National Government’s problem, not ours. Why should we come to the rescue? Let them solve their problem,” he told reporters yesterday.

The National Food Authority (NFA) 7 is running low in its rice reserves, and as a result, the city jail is experiencing shortage of rice supply.

At present, there are at least 4,925 inmates housed at the City Jail.

Osmeña said that while he is concerned about the welfare of the inmates, he still has reservations on giving aid.

“If I give them (BJMP) rice, they’ll keep half of it. There’s so much corruption there. Of course, I pity the prisoners but you know, they should not threaten me with those things,” said Osmeña.

The mayor added that he also had a “bad experience” with BJMP 7 when the City previously extended food assistance for the inmates.

BJMP allegedly refused to be audited when the City Government offered to shoulder the food expenses of the inmates.

“Remember, it’s not my mon- ey but the City’s. If it’s going to end up in corruption, I’m sorry. They can threaten me, block me, whatever they will try to do, I’m not going to do it,” said Osmeña.

This, however, excludes the adjacent Operation Second Chance Center (OSCC). Both facilities are located in Barangay Kalunasan.

Minors

Osmeña said that he will consider extending rice subsidy for OSCC, with at least 200 minors and children in conflict with the law under its care.

“But really, it’s a basic principle that they have to be responsible for whatever assistance they will be provided because BJMP was pocketing the money for the prisoners. Recently, the food has improved, but I don’t know if that’s continuing,” he said.

Supt. Renante Rubio, City Jail warden, assured that they are doing their best to solve the problem of rice shortage in their facility. Rubio said that they still have supply of rice to feed the 4,925 inmates.

“We can still last for days. As a jail warden, I can assure that we will solve this problem even before it will occur because this is not the problem of our inmates,” said Rubio.

Rubio said that the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) 7 is coordinating with them with regards to the shortage of NFA rice.

The Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), meanwhile, announced it may also purchase commercial rice, following the shortage of supply of NFA rice. This may be done by making a request of purchase to the Provincial General Services Office.

“Sa mga situation nga dili kaprovide ang NFA, wa man sad ilimit nga di ta makapalit sa ubang suppliers,” said Jone Siegfred Sepe, adding that it must go through canvassing or bidding process.