Court wants jail guards
to answer minors' raps

The Regional Trial Court in Bacolod City will order the two jail officers of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Brgy. Handumanan to explain the complaint filed against them for allegedly manhandling five minor detainees aged 15 to 16, in the evening of March 9.

Judge Ray Alan Drilon of RTC Branch 41 told the DAILY STAR last night that his order seeks to get the side of Senior Jail Officer 4 Emidardo Arcenas and JO3 Ramon Gicana on the complaint filed by the Department of Social Services and Development-Bacolod.

A case for physical abuse has been filed against the two jailers and they are directed to give their explanation within 10 days.

Arcenas and Gicana are also enjoined to explain the allegations against them in the light of section 6, AM No. 02-1-18 of the Supreme Court, or the procedures in the taking of a juvenile into custody. It also cited that person in conflict with the law shall not be subjected to greater restraint than is necessary; shall not be subjected to violence; and for juveniles to be held secured, apart from the opposite sex or adult offenders.

The DSSD, in an incident report it submitted to provincial jail administrator Samson Abaygar, had also included adult inmates Eleanardo Dalag and Adolfo Infante as reportedly among those who mauled the victims.

An independent probe is also being conducted by the Commission on Human Rights in Negros Occidental on the case.

Drilon said he will refer the explanation of Arcenas and Gicana to the BJMP regional office in Iloilo City.

Abaygar had earlier said an investigator from their regional office is also looking into the case.

He added that, of the five minors, three suffered hematomas in their bodies, as certified by medical officer Eli Cong, in his medical examination report.*GCT

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15 persons
nabbed in San Carlos

Fifteen persons were rounded up in San Carlos, Negros Occidental, Thursday night in a saturation drive of nightspots in the city, a press release from the station said yesterday.

The San Carlos City police team was led by Supt Ricardo de la Paz.

Arrested for various offenses were Gaudioso Sinoy Jr., 28, and Danny Bolado, 22, for concealment of deadly weapons; Randy Egay, 25 - violation of Presidential Decree 1866 as amended by Republic Act 8294 or illegal possession of firearms; and Judalyn Morales, 26, Alejandra Baba, 28, Nadia Gaylo, 25, Analyn Jiminez, 21, Salvacion Valiente, 20, Jovilyn Gonzales, 21, Jasmin Cabaron, 22, and five minors, whose names are being withheld by the DAILY STAR, for vagrancy.*

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