Prison guards get stern warning from Teno

Stunned by the escape of three inmates from the Division of Corrections, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday met with Public Safety Commissioner Charles Ingram and prison chief Gregory F. Castro to assess prison conditions following the fourth jailbreak in less than two years.

At the same time, he issued stern warning to officers and jail guards to be more careful next time in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“Something has to be done. Officers should be more cautious and should be aware of the situation and try to avoid this thing,” the governor told reporters. “As far as that (incident is concerned), it happens in any place in the world.”

“Anything that happens dealing with lack of public (safety), you get disappointed,” added Tenorio.

This is the fourth escape hatched by inmates from the Susupe correctional facility since Ingram assumed office in March 1998, and the latest after eight prisoners bolted out of their cells last February.

The three inmates, Shawn Appleby, Jeronimo S. Ada and Melvin S. Basa, were arrested late yesterday in Kagman III by police acting on a tip from a caller. (See related story)

Asked if he had given fresh instructions to Castro and Ingram, Tenorio said there has always been set of rules DOC needs to follow to prevent inmates from escaping.

“Instructions have been there from the very beginning. They don’t have to be told everyday that they should do it. If they don’t do their job, then forget it,” he said.

“They don’t need to be reminded what they are supposed to do. They should know what they are supposed to do everyday just to make sure that they are taking care of the facilities and that inmates are taken care of and accounted everyday,” added Tenorio.

According to the governor, the escape shows security lax in the prison and negligence by the division.

“Unfortunately it happened, but we don’t tolerate those kind of things. Those officers and guards should make sure that they are doing what they are supposed to do,” he said.

Poor security and deterioration of the facility in Susupe have been blamed for the string of jailbreaks for the last two years. A new comprehensive prison project is under review by a task force headed by Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider, although some improvements are underway in some of the existing buildings.