Jailbreakers: ‘There’s no milk in prison’

Claiming their constitutional rights have been violated, the three jailbreakers said they bolted out of prison because of inhuman condition in the Division of Corrections.

Shawn C. Appleby, Melvin N. Basa, and Jeronimo S. Ada wrote to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to complain prison conditions, such as dirty bathroom and toilet, rooms infested with mosquitoes, and lousy food. They also complained about not being served milk.

The three also apologized to the governor for their Oct. 10 escape. The inmates asked Tenorio to visit the corrections, dialog with prisoners and provide them with counselor.

At the same time, they sought the ouster of DOC Director Greg T. Castro, Assistant Chief Juan Ayuyu and Capt. Johannes Ngiraibuuch, whom the three accused of incompetence in running the prison.

According to Public Safety Commissioner Charles W. Ingram, he met with the governor Monday to discuss the letter and conditions at the correction facility.

“The management is the problem here at DOC. We need people here who have experience on how to run this place,” the three said in handwritten letter. “We are treated like animals here.”

Appleby, Ada and Basa said the cell where they are staying have holes and cracks everywhere. With the bathroom and toilet not properly maintained, their health condition is jeopardized, they said.

They also complained about the lack of back-up generator and screen to protect them against mosquito bites. According to the inmates, prison officials declined their request for a screen since it’s not within the budget.

Every single day, the inmates said, they eat dry food — without fruits and milk. “All we eat is rice and pork everyday,” they said.

Food served in prison is not enough for everybody, they said. As such, they have relied so much on their families to bring them the food they like such as snacks, coffee or soda.

Prison officials have limited the use of telephone to one call a day for three minutes. They cannot be brought to the hospital whenever they want to because DOC claims there’s not enough manpower to escort them.

The three are now facing escape charges filed by the Attorney General’s Office. Appleby is serving a 40-year sentence for killing Korean businessman Byung Ok Suh in November 1996 after robbing the victim’s store, Chalan Market.

Ada and Basa are facing 37 counts of criminal charges, including kidnapping, assault and battery, robbery and illegal carrying of firearm in connection with a riot in Koblerville on July 11, 1999.