THE warden of the Cagayan de Oro City Jail in Lumbia village said the five policemen detained for kidnapping charges are not receiving special treatment even if they were jailed in a detention cell separate from the rest of the inmates.
Jail warden Superintendent Ferdinand Pontillo said the five policemenm, Senior Inspector Ereneo Ramirez, Police officer 3 Alejandro Ubanan, Senior Police Officer 2 Jojo Lim, Senior Police Officer 1 Alaindelon Tacubao, and Police Officer 2 Sangkula Hussein, are being kept in a cell for accused policemen.
All five were former members of the Crime Against Person and Property Desk of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office.
"Gilahi namo sila considering nga sa ilahang pagka-police, naa sila nadakpan and gikasuhan. Wala sila gisagol sa general population, naa sila sa selda nga ilang kauban police rapud," Pontillo said over local radio station.
Pontillo also denied reports that one of the jailed policemen was mauled by a fellow police inmate.
"No report of mauling incident of Senior Inspector Ramirez were ever reported to since his detention. He confirmed it when I personally asked him recently. His relatives has no reason to worry with his safety in jail," Pontillo said
Pontillo said the jail facility has two detention cells for the members of the Philippine National Police, military and even police assets, who have pending cases in court.
Cell one has 21 inmates while the other cell has 25 detainees.
The cells, Pontillo said, have tighter security and detailed jail guards were tasked to monitor their activities.
The five policemen accused of kidnapping Enrique Fernandez III last October 23, belong to the cell with 16 other police inmates and a high profile detainee.
"Niabot na sila karon og 21 kabuok sa selda nga ideally lima lang gyud unta ang pasigo kay bisan aha piot na gyud," Pontillo said.
Pontillo said the city jail facility was design to accommodate 300 inmates but it had gone up to around 2,000 at present.
The city jail warden said the facility received an average of 100 detainees every month since the start of the Duterte administration.
Pontillo said prison population can rise to 3,000.
"Last year ang among inmates is 1,200-1,300 pagsulod sa May kalit nitaas almost average of 100 so around 500 percent ang pagtaas," Pontillo said.
"Maigo man gihapon sila kay kung adlaw kasagara sa ila makagawas man pero during katulog na sila maghuot. Ang uban gabuhat og duyan ang uban gatakilid," Pontillo added.
