No more dancing with inmates

TOURISTS and other spectators who want to experience dancing  with Cebu’s famed “dancing inmates” in the quadrangle of the provincial jail may no longer get that chance.

“If possible, we will not allow visitors to go down directly (to the dancing inmates),” Jose Ma. Gastardo, Capitol consultant on jail matters, told the Provincial Board  yesterday.

He said the  new restriction was a security measure in the wake of the Feb. 24 near-riot that resulted in the mauling of one inmate.

Gastardo said an inspection of the cells of inmates yielded contraband items—three sacks of metal objects, cellphones, lighters, ropes, sliced GI sheets and a rice cooker.

Visitation rights were suspended after the commotion, and were eased this week to a monthly visit by loved ones of the detainees, who number over 1,600.

But public performances, mounted for free once a month by the Capitol, are still suspended.

Gastardo said he instructed acting jail warden Napoleon Miranda to monitor  visitors and those who come to watch the inmates’ performances.

The consultant was invited to brief the board on why the commotionhappened and what was being done.  He assured that they are working on  security concerns of the jail.

He said he  heard reports about drug peddling  but couldn’t confirm this.    He said one detainee, Juan Carillo Baldueza shouted “profane words” and brandished a bladed weapon during a dance practice that incited the inmates to beat him up.

Cebu Gov.  Gwendolyn Garcia suspended  privileges and confined the inmates to their cells. She recently allowed jail visitations on a monthly basis. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol