BJMP Appoints New Officer in Charge Following Prisoner Protest at Negros Occidental Jail

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Negros Island Region (BJMP-NIR) has appointed Senior Inspector Raymund Aro as the new officer in charge of the Negros Occidental District Jail located in Bago City. This leadership change follows an eight-hour demonstration by persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) demanding the removal of former jail warden Chief Inspector Crisyrel Awe.

The protest occurred days after a security breach on August 24, when a homemade .45-caliber pistol, along with a magazine and seven bullets, was thrown over the jail’s perimeter wall. Two inmates were identified as the intended recipients of the weapon, prompting authorities to isolate them to prevent potential retaliation.

BJMP-NIR spokesperson Senior Inspector Juniven Rey Umadhay confirmed that both inmates are currently subject to disciplinary proceedings while the investigation into the incident continues.

The inmate protest concluded peacefully at 4:30 p.m. on August 28, following negotiations led by Senior Superintendent Mary Rose Laguyo and Superintendent Ruth Estales, assistant regional directors of BJMP-NIR. Chief Superintendent Brendan Fulgencio, director of BJMP-NIR, is scheduled to visit the facility to assess the situation firsthand.

Chief Inspector Crisyrel Awe has voluntarily stepped down and will be reassigned to the regional bureau. Senior Inspector Aro, as the new officer in charge, has pledged to restore order and enhance the safety of both inmates and personnel during the ongoing investigation.

Human rights group Kapatid has reported that the jail houses 24 political prisoners, including 77-year-old Father Frank Fernandez, a peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. The facility comprises 31 dormitories: 24 regular dormitories, six reserved for convicted prisoners, and one isolation dormitory.