CPDRC inmate found dead

Two weeks after an inmate was strangled to death, another inmate was found dead yesterday hanging inside the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).

A rope was tied around the man's neck with his shirt stained with blood while he was in a kneeling position at the side of the jail quadrangle. Another inmate found him at 4: 51 a.m.

The 52-year-old inmate was identified as Eutiquio Morante, resident of Barangay Consuelo in Camotes Island. He was arrested for rape in 2016.

The Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office and Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) arrived at the scene past an hour later based on the incident report submitted by provincial guard Bolando Betito to Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III.

"Right now, we are investigating if there is foul play," Davide said.

The body of the man was submitted to forensic examination to determine the cause of his death. However, homicide section chief Jonathan Taneo dismissed the possibility of foul play.

"Pagsulod pa lang sa atong personnel nakita nila ang victim, suicide gyod pero ongoing gihapon ang investigation i-precise lang gyod nato ang paghimo og investigation," said Taneo

CPDRC Officer-in-Charge Roberto Legaspi said they have already notified the family of Morante. Legaspi described the incident as isolated and there is no cause for alarm.

The governor admitted that the facility is no longer conducive to the inmates because it has become too crowded. At present, the count has risen up to 3,728 inmates when the facility was only built for 1,500 inmates.