MANILA, Philippines — Bu reau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. yesterday expressed his confusion over a complaint filed by the wives of political prisoners regarding the strip cavity searches in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) despite having signed the waiver several times.
BuCor earlier said visitors of NBP inmates are asked to sign a waiver that would allow officers to frisk, pat, rub, strip or conduct a visual cavity search.
In a dzBB interview, Catapang said Gloria Almonte, who was one of those who filed the complaint, signed the waiver form several times.
“I’m wonde ring. They signed the waiver 14 times. Why is this only being raised now?” Catapang said.
“She has 14 waivers. That means she is willing to be inspected,” he ad ded.
However, human rights group Kapatid, which assisted the political prisoners’ wives in filing a complaint before the Commission on Human Rights, pointed out that it was only during the most recent visit on April 21 that the wives were “asked to strip,” according to GMA News.
The bureau recently relieved seven jail guards following the complaint lodged by the prisoners’ wives against the strip cavity search they experienced at the NBP.
Catapang, however, justified the conduct of strip cavity searches to prevent the smuggling of contraband into the prison.
He s aid the bureau recently recorded 30 cases of visitors trying to sneak contraband into the prison.
He also pointed out that there is “complete privacy” during the conduct of strip cavity searches.
“When the woman is inspected, they are in one room. There really is complete privacy. No one is taking pictures. There are also no men allowed inside,” he added.
Also yesterday, the Department of Justice, which has supervision over the BuCor, said criminal and administrative charges may be filed against the seven NBP guards “if proven they went beyond their authority and functions” in conducting the strip searches.
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — San Carlos City in Negros Occidental is now under a state of calamity due to drought amid the El Niño phenomenon.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chaired by Mayor Renato Gustilo recommended the state of calamity declaration, which was approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod during its special session on Monday.
Damage to agriculture was placed at P17.6 million, with 375 hectares of land and 518 farmers affected.
Kabankalan City and San Enrique town, also in Negros Occidental, had earlier been placed under a state of calamity due to the effects of El Niño.
Damage to crops in the entire province was placed at P214 million as of May 3.
Negros Oriental was placed under a state of calamity last week as damage to agriculture has increased to P240 million. It was the eighth province placed under calamity status.
Meanwhile, the provincial government of Negros Occidental is preparing for the rainy season following the announcement by the Department of Science and Technology that there is a 62 percent chance that the La Niña phenomenon would develop from June to August.
“I am hoping that there will be rain, but no typhoons,” Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.
In Zamboanga peninsula, President Marcos yesterday distributed P58.9 million in financial assistance to farmers and fisherfolk affected by El Niño.
The President also distributed fuel subsidy, farming inputs as well as funds to rehabilitate and install solar-powered irrigation systems, among other related programs.
The cash assistance came from the Socio-Civic Projects Fund, formerly known as the President’s Social Fund.
Zamboanga del Norte received P14.26 million; Zamboanga del Sur, P14.3 million; Zamboanga Sibugay, P20.3 million, and Zamboanga City, P10 million.
“President Marcos has repeatedly mentioned (the need) to focus on affected farmers, fisherfolk and their families because… they are the frontliners of our food security,” Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama, spokesman for Task Force El Niño, said. – Alexis Romero
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it has good leads on the whereabouts of Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy and five of his followers, who are wanted for qualified human trafficking and child sex abuse cases.
Police are verifying information they received on where the preacher is hiding, PNP public information officer Col. Jean Fajardo said yesterday.
“Hopefully we can locate him so we can serve the warrants of arrest issued by our courts,” Fajardo told a news briefing.
She did not give details so as not to jeopardize pursuit operations.
Courts in Pasig and Davao issued arrest warrants for Quiboloy, Jackielyn Roy and Sylvia Cemanes as well as Cresente, Ingrid and Paulene, all surnamed Canada.
Last month, Judge Dante Baguio of the Davao Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 12 ordered their arrest on charges of violation of Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Law.
Another arrest warrant was issued against the six on charges of child and sexual abuse as provided under the same law.
Pasig RTC Branch 159 Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa ordered the arrest of Quiboloy and his followers for the non-bailable offense of qualified human trafficking.
Meanwhile, Fajardo said PNP records showed that the 14 firearms previously registered under Quiboloy’s name were sold on Dec. 30, 2023.
She said six of the firearms were sold to a certain Cresente Canada and the eight to two other people with the same surname.
Fajardo said the Firearms and Explosives Office is verifying if Cresente is the same person who is Quiboloy’s co-accused.
She clarified that Quiboloy’s camp surrendered five of his guns on May 2 and not on Tuesday as reported by the PNP.
On Wednesday, Quiboloy’s legal counsel Israelito Torreon said only five of the 19 firearms registered under the name of the pastor were surrendered because the 14 other guns were “validly disposed of or duly transferred in other person’s names.”
The PNP has revoked Quiboloy’s licenses to own and carry firearms and firearms registration because he is facing criminal cases, which are punishable with imprisonment of more than two years.
MANILA, Philippines — Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas, 80, married 32-year-old lawyer Angelica Chua on Wednesday.
President Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos along with other politicians and businessmen attended the wedding held at the Minor Basilica and Parish of the Immaculate Conception in Batangas City.
“I came here not only of my own free will, but full of love,” Mandanas said in his wedding vows. “We are both ready to raise as good Christians the children who God will give us.”
Tearing up as she spoke, Chua thanked Mandanas for “having the courage to ask me to be your Valentine and for choosing to spend the rest of your life with me.”
“I’ve had my heart broken so many times that I guarded up and raised my standards so high, so high no one was supposed to reach it so I won’t get hurt again, until you came,” she said.
“And if there is one thing I’d ask of you, it is for you to promise to stay for as long as you can so I can grow old with you,” Chua added.
A report on abs-cbnnews quoted the governor’s wife as saying that some of their principal sponsors shouldered the cost of the reception held in front of the provincial capitol.
Chua’s mother is Batangas City Executive Judge Maria Cecilia Chua. Her father is a doctor while her uncle, Artemio Chua, was former mayor of Ibaan town.
Judge Chua is the magistrate behind the Mandanas ruling, which allowed local government units to have a larger share in national government revenues.
Mandanas’ first wife Anakalusugan party-list nominee Regina Reyes died in 2022.