The Negros Oriental Detention and Rehabilitation Center (NODRC), formerly known as the provincial jail, has 127 convicted inmates ready for transfer to the National Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila but the provincial government is short of funds to deliver them in one batch.
OIC provincial warden Regulo Getalan said they had problems in their liquidation during the transfer last April 28 because 20 inmates were sent to Muntinlupa while the provincial jail could only afford for six jail guards so they requested for additional police escorts from the provincial Philippine National Police (PNP).
He said the provincial jail is running low on budget for the travel expenses of convicted inmates because of the policy of one escort per inmate which will cost the facility P12,000 for one inmate and one escort. The facility has a budget of P330,000 per annum for travel expenses.
The next shipment in July will only be for six inmates because the provincial jail can only afford for six escorts.
Meanwhile, the OIC provincial warden vehemently denied accusations detainees of the provincial jail are allowed to get out of the facility without escorts.
However, he admitted that only six inmates with minor cases are allowed to gather firewood in the neighborhood the farthest of which is in Dauin, Negros Oriental. (PNA/JG)
