Altermidya Network filed a formal complaint on July 16 against Tacloban City Jail warden J/Insp Eva Naputo, and chief intelligence officer SJ01 Dalmacio C. Canayog Jr, at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) National Headquarters for their abusive treatment of prisoners, specifically political prisoners Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Mariel Domequil.
The complaint stated that Naputo repeatedly delayed or denied requests from the media or diplomatic community to visit the two, unjustly and without approval. Barred visits included Dutch Deputy Ambassador Robert van der Hum on June 26.
Naputo disregarded their requests for check-ups on several occasions. Recently, she ignored requests for a medical check-up for Cumpio’s severe cough and Domequil’s swollen eye. They waited several more weeks before allowing consultation with a doctor, and only online. The doctor directly interviewed neither and communicated only through the jail nurse.
Officials also disregarded their longstanding recommendation to repair the dormitory’s damaged roof. Naputo further stated that PDLs (Persons Deprived of Liberty) should themselves pay for these repairs.
Under Naputo’s leadership, only Tacloban City Jail Female Dormitory (TCJFD) in the region does not have a regular visiting day for the prisoners’ families. She also threatened to overturn the system that allows visits from non-relatives and to reject requests for essential items like books, hygiene supplies, and kitchenware.
A separate complaint was filed regarding Canayog’s order to block letters to Cumpio and Domequil if their content goes beyond the “usual greetings.” He has prohibited Cumpio and Domequil to help teach in the ALS because of “concerns” about what they might teach fellow prisoners. In addition, Canayog has extorted questionable contributions from prisoners, allegedly for tarpaulin printing and food expenses in the dormitory.
Jail officials have also repeatedly taken photos of letters and documents from their lawyers, which directly violates their right to privacy and the attorney-client privilege.
“We believe that such actions violate the detainees rights and dignity. This contradicts the BJMP’s mission to ensure the welfare of PDLs while maintaining a safe and humane facility,” Altermidya national chairperson Raymund Villanueva stated in their formal complaint.
The group also sent the same complaint to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
Kapatid, an organization of relatives and friends of political prisoners, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), and the Free Tacloban 5 Network all expressed their support for the filing of the complaint.
According to the NUJP, the government has an obligation to ensure the rights and welfare of Cumpio and Domequil while they remain in custody for their hearings. Officials should also be investigated and held accountable.
“We call on the BJMP to immediately investigate these allegations denying the rights and privileges of the PDLs at the Tacloban City Jail. We urge our fellow human rights advocate, allies, friends, church people and the broad masses to join us in ensuring the safety of Frenchie and Maye and the rest of the PDLs in the TCJFD for any retaliation and/or further mistreatment,” the Free Tacloban 5 Network stated.
