Navotas City Jail inmates hold noise barrage to protest cashless system

Four hundred inmates of the Navotas City Jail held a noise barrage on Tuesday to protest against the no-cash policy in the prison, a report on Unang Balita on Wednesday said.

Under the policy of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), inmates cannot send or receive money. Visitors are also barred from bringing in cash.

This is to avoid bribery of jail guards, the report said.

The inmates staged the noise barrage before 3 p.m. Tuesday.

They also asked that Police Chief Insp. Ruben Olivo, warden of the Navotas City Jail, be relieved from his post for implementing the cashless system.

"Kasi 'yung pera, nakakabili ng drugs. Nag-positive ng drugs sa loob kaya naghihigpit tayo ngayon dito," Sr. Supt. Roberto Fajardo, director of the Northern Police District, said.

Because of the noise barrage, more than 50 visitors were barred from leaving the facility on Tuesday.

The BJMP issued a statement saying the cashless system is being implemented to put a stop to illegal transactions in the prison as well as bribery of BJMP personnel.

Tension subsided at past 10 p.m. Tuesday, the Navotas Philippine National Police said.

The cashless system was suspended temporarily.

"Nakausap ko nga 'yung ating mga BJMP personnel at sinabi nga sa 'kin na kontrolado na nila 'yung sitwasyon sa loob," Navotas Chief of Police Sr. Supt. Dante Pesa Novicio said. —KG, GMA News