North Cotabato inmates padlock jail, seeks ouster of warden

KIDAPAWAN CITY - - Tension remained high at the North Cotabato Provincial Jail (NCPJ) in Barangay Amas here Friday as inmates padlocked the main gate and denied entry of the jail guards for routine inspection.Jail Supt. Peter Bungat Jr., NCJP officer-in-charge, said disturbance materialized since last week, after he assumed office and implemented strict policies inside the facility.Bungat said upon assumption, he ordered the suspension of the inmates’ marital privileges as well as the bringing of food by families who visit relatives detained inside the provincial jail. We need to temporarily implement new policies to curtail the illegal activities of the inmates,” Bungat told reporters in an interview.Bungat disclosed that despite several searches, illegal drugs still proliferate among inmates, particularly those who were nabbed in the illegal drug trade.Declining to mention names, Bungat admitted that there are several high - profile inmates connected to drug lords detained inside the jail. In fact, during the surprise inspection before I assumed as OIC jail warden, several contrabands were confiscated from the inmates,” Bungat disclosed.The OIC jail warden said though negotiation for the protest is ongoing, the inmates’ leaders refused to listen and demanded that their privileges be restored.Bungat said in order that inmates could eat their meals, sacks of rice and viands are placed near the main gate. We are exerting all means to convince the inmates to open the main gate,” Bungat said.Additional police personnel were deployed in the perimeter of the jail facility while negotiations continue.Early on, the penitentiary has received threats of attack from members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) planning to spring out high-profile comrades inside the facility.