BJMP suspends Malabon City Jail visits due to protest damage

After a protest and noise barrage occurred at the Malabon City Jail on Friday, authorities temporarily suspended visits until the damage to the jail was repaired.

According to Vonne Aquino's Saturday report on "24 Oras Weekend," the walls of the conjugal area inside the jail were damaged as the detainees protested the transfer of two inmates they considered their "mayors."

Malabon City Jail Officer-In-Charge Jail Chief Inspector Dick Loque said visits would resume once the damage inside the jail was repaired.

The jail management also spoke with coordinators about the detainees' grievances.

Though visits were temporarily halted, jail authorities allowed visitors to deliver food.

Malabon City Vice Mayor Bernard dela Cruz also revisited the jail on Saturday, and the inmates vowed not to cause any further trouble.

Meanwhile, according to the mother of the two "mayors" transferred to Bicutan, the BJMP did not show her a court order for her sons' transfer.

The inmates had also complained to former warden Jail Superintendent Joseph Tacdoy about the food given them.

"Anong ginagawa nyo sa mga tao nyo sa taas? Pinakakain nyo ng bubog! May lupa! May bato!” said the inmate’s mother.

"Hindi nila makain kaya kung magdala kami ng kanin, madami,” another parent of an inmate said.

City jail authorities and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology are said to be investigating these allegations.

“Rest assured na magiging humane ang BJMP and ‘yung very unfortunate lang ang nangyari and we will try to investigate and sanction kung meron man pong pagkakamali ang kasama namin sa hanay,” said BJMP spokesperson Jail Chief Inspector Jayrex Bustinera.

“’Yung purchasing officer natin magpu-purchase ng bigas, iluluto at ipapa-check sa kanila ang kalidad. Kapag okay, yun ang ise-serve sa kanila,” said Jail Chief Inspector Dick Loque.

The BJMP said Tacdoy refused to give a statement and would wait for any case that would be filed against him. — Sherylin Untalan/DVM, GMA Integrated News