The majority of the 70 detainees at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center want Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla, who are detained for graft and plunder charges, transferred to a “detention facility suited to their situation.” INQUIRER and AFP FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines–Senators Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada, move out.
The majority of the 70 detainees at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center where Estrada and Revilla are detained for graft and plunder charges have expressed support for the police officer who was relieved of his job for allowing well-wishers of Estrada to stay at the detention center beyond the prescribed visiting hours.
“The replacement of the warden [PNP Custodial Center Supt. Mario Malana] will not solve the problem because the problem is the two senators detained here, and the media overly focusing on them. The real solution is to transfer the senators to a detention facility suited to their situation,” the detainees said in their “appeal to the media.”
The letter in Filipino was handwritten in blue ink on seven bond paper sheets, which were left at the Camp Crame press office.
The letter, dated July 1, bore the names of 58 of the detainees, 56 of which were accompanied by signatures.
The two who did not have signatures were Jonathan Carpio and Revilla’s aide Richard Cambe, who is facing plunder charges in the pork barrel scam.
The list of signatories included, among others, alleged communist leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon; former Elections Supervisor Lintang Bedol, a suspect in a poll fraud case; “Atimonan rubout” suspect Supt. Hansel Marantan; and Supt. Rommel Miranda, accused in the 2012 kidnap-slay of businesswoman Leah Ng.
The Tiamzons, in a separate statement, said they feared removing Supt. Mario Malana would lead to stricter rules at the Custodial Center, and only “ordinary detainees” would suffer.
Noting a “special treatment” for the detained senators, the couple asked for “humane treatment” for all detainees.
Special day till 2 a.m.
Saturday was particularly special for Estrada, who was celebrating on that day his 25th wedding anniversary with wife Precy.
The feast at the detention center included roasted pig, or lechon, and other delicacies from 5-star restaurants. The guests included some known names in the entertainment world, like Philip Salvador and German Moreno.
Under police rules, the visiting hours were supposed to last from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. but a number of guests stayed until midnight.
One visitor, actor Tirso Cruz III, stayed until 2 a.m., according to one television station.
Probable cause
For such “excesses” as allowing visitors to remain inside the detention center outside visiting hours, Malana has been sacked from his post.
Malana was charged with the offense of “less grave neglect of duty”—an administrative infraction that could bring him a suspension from 30 to 59 days.
The PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac said the Headquarters Support Service (HSS) conducted an investigation immediately after last weekend’s incident.
“The HSS has found probable cause to charge him (Malana) administratively for less grave neglect of duty for failure to implement standing rules and regulations of the custodial service, as well as failure to comply with specific legal instructions to inform the higher headquarters or give updates on his unit,” Sindac said in a briefing.
Relaxed visiting hours
Up to last weekend, visits were allowed only on Thursdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The senators’ guests apparently overstayed their visit despite the rules.
The visiting hours have since been relaxed. Now, visits are allowed on Tuesdays to Fridays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sindac said Malana had been directed to submit an explanation for last weekend’s incident. The explanation, however, was apparently not good enough.
On floating status
“He was not able to come up with a good reason for that incident last weekend …” Sindac said, adding he did not know the details of the explanation. “Suffice it to say, it was not good enough for him to be free of any responsibility.”
This means Malana is now on floating status and will be assigned in the meantime to the administrative holding section of the HSS, headed by Chief Supt. Benito Estipona.
He was replaced by Supt. Peter Limbaoan as officer in charge and Limbaoan is now under orders to strictly implement the Custodial Center’s rules and regulations.
“I am sure he was given instructions to be more diligent in observing the rules and regulations of the custodial service,” Sindac said.
Hearing of case
Malana will be allowed to air his side in a hearing of the administrative case against him.
Asked about claims by other detainees that the incident had the blessings of PNP higher-ups, Sindac said: “That is only an allegation.”
“His case was for failure to implement rules and regulations and failure to inform the higher-ups on what was happening in the Custodial Center. So it simply means that the higher-ups didn’t know what was happening at the Custodial Center during those days,” the PNP spokesman pointed out.
Detainees get together
Sindac said that despite being separated, the other detainees in PNP custody managed to gather 58 signatures to support their claims, which may be an indication of a security breach.
“If it is true that the detainees are now being padlocked, if it really happened, it is a manifestation of what they perceive to be lapses in security,” Sindac said.
If Malana is found guilty of the offense of “less grave neglect of duty,” he may be punished with a minimum of 30 days suspension and a maximum of 60 days suspension without pay and allowances.
Sindac said Malana’s bonuses for the year may also be affected if he is suspended.
Asked if there were other policemen relieved aside from Malana, Sindac said Malana was the only one so far, adding: “I’d like to think he took responsibility for it.”–With a report from Jaymee T. Gamil
RELATED STORIES
Security at PNP Custodial Center in disarray
Custodial Center chief sacked for allowing extended visits to Revilla, Estrada