Jailed Joavan owes prison store P140K

JOAVAN Fernandez is facing another problem.

This time, Joavan may be subjected to a penalty known as “takal” or a practice of beating an inmate with the use of a paddle after he failed to settle his debt amounting to P140,000 from the cooperative store of the inmates inside the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).

CPDRC acting jail warden Romeo Manansala said they presently placed Joavan inside an isolated detention facility at the provincial jail to secure him from other inmates who wanted to penalize him for the offense.

“Aduna may policy nga ang utang angayan bayaran. Aduna may takal sa sulod sa prisohan alang niadtong dili makabayad sa utang. (One should pay for his or her debt. Inside the jail, the inmates have a practice known as takal. This will be implemented to those who fail to settle their debt),” Manansala told reporters yesterday.

He said Joavan’s debt came from foods and cigarettes he bought for himself and other inmates who took advantage of the son of Talisay City Councilor Socrates Fernandez.

”The inmates took advantage of Joavan. They bought food and cigarettes in our store using Joavan’s name. Of course, they sought permission from Joavan who simply heeded to their request,” Manansala said.

Of the P140,000 he owed to the inmates’ cooperative, Joavan already paid P30,000.

Manansala said the amount includes an interest of 10 percent every week.

He admitted that “takal” or beating an inmate with the use of a paddle has been a practice inside the CPDRC.

“Wala pa tingali ta natawo, nagsugod na ang takal. (Even before our birth, the penalty already started inside the jail),” Manansala said.

He said the parties involved are usually called for a series of hearings done by inmates before the penalty is imposed.

Manansala said they allowed the practice of beating inmates who failed to settle their debts to disciple detainees.

He said they just have to make sure that the implementation of the penalty won’t be severe.

Manansala explained that the blows an inmate receives will depend on the amount which he ought to pay to the other inmates.

So far, he said no one died after being subjected to the “takal.”

Manansala said Joavan should settle his dues otherwise he will be penalized by the inmates.

“We have been reminding him not to heed to requests from other inmates for him to buy cigarettes or food. Maybe, he won’t be able to pay his dues. Now, he has to pay his debt otherwise he shall be subjected to the penalty,” he said.

Aside from his debt, Manansala said Joavan is doing well in jail. He said Joavan even spent for the improvement of the CPDRC chapel.

Joavan was admitted to the CPDRC last May 22 after he was arrested by police for illegal possession of explosives and a string of illegal gun possession and violation of the election gun ban. /Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol