Gwen suspends visitors passes in provincial jail
CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday canceled passes of “conjugal visitors” in the Cebu provincial jail pending a review of procedures in issuing them.
Garcia lamented the adverse publicity over the complaint of a woman, who said she was brought into the jail and treated like a prostitute by an inmate.
“If these documents are presented to us, I think it is beyond the responsibility of the warden to go beyond that and go to Consolacion for example and question the municipality of Consolacion and question the barangay captain of Lamac on whether or not the certification they issued is genuine,”she said.
The woman-complainant, who is now under the protection of volunters of an anti-human trafficking group, was allowed to enter the jail with a special ID.
Her pass bears a 1 x 1 photo and the label “Conjugal Visitor’s Pass” signed by the acting warden Romeo Manansala of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center.
Garcia said anyone could claim to be a victim of trafficking.
Article continues after this advertisement“At any point, you can always cry foul- gibinuangan ko, gi-traffic ko, gihimo kong prostitute,” said the governor.
Article continues after this advertisement“As far as we are concerned, we have not been remiss in our responsibilities. We will just dig deeper into the question of motives and this hullaballoo,” she added.
The woman earlier complained to Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, head of the Provincial Women’s Commission, about her ordeal.
She said she was recruited by someone from northern Cebu who had promised her a job.
The woman, a native of General Santos City, is now in the custody of the International Justice Mission which is providing assistance to the woman.
“There’s always the presumption of regularity in the performance of public official’s functions. As far as CPDRC is concern, all documentary requirements were met,” said the governor.
Garcia took offense at revelations of the woman made public in interviews with Vice Governor Magpale, who is running for reelection in 2013 against the One Cebu party of Garcia.
“The CPDRC is not an investigation agency just to remind others who become so shrill about this,” said Garcia.
“Maybe, if someone wants to investigate for showbiz purposes or other purposes for whatever political or otherwise or maybe a good topic for a movie, mahimo ug imbestigahon… Wild horses cannot drag you to the CPDRC if you don’t want to go,”she said.
Magpale, meanwhile, said she didn’t call a press conference about the woman’s complaint.
She said it just happened that reporters covering the Capitol were in her office when the woman came in to seek help.
