A jail warden in dilemma

By ALICE NICART (PIA Eastern Samar)
April 5, 2008

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar  –  Eastern Samar Provincial Warden, Alexandrino Apelado, 59, found himself once more in a hot seat following the recent arrest of two inmates who were spotted by local police outside the jail.

The arrest caused media and the Borongan public to have talked here and there and as expected, the Provincial Warden had been accused for his so-called laxity or maybe too much familiarity and confidence in treating his wards. Talks of "infidelity in the custody of an inmate" had been thrown to subject warden and what is worrisome was his implication in a number of crimes in the recent past, which were allegedly committed by inmates, but neither was proven against him so far, he said and up to this writing, he refutes any participation therein.

"Kulang nala sugaron nga ako an pinatay kan Rizal," he mused (My detractors are short to accuse me of killing Rizal.)

How could people be so outrageous? "They can be right", he enthused, "but for humanitarian reasons, perhaps, the law can be moderated," he argued.

Apelado who is fondly called "Sangko" admitted that the father in him surfaces in times of health needs of inmates.

"But I have never ordered any inmate to perform any crime contrary to the nasty talks being said against my person," he revealed, "and I have remained a poor man, I have never aspired for earthly things if only to be acquired the wrong way. I have content on the 24th Salary Grade even if counterparts enjoy the 26th." the seminarian turned warden added in the interview.

"A prominent detainee who is a diabetic needed an urgent physical treatment in Tacloban and had to be decided by me, lest I die too myself because of guilt, had I not allowed him to be brought immediately. It was a judgment call I suppose, that I did not wait anymore for a court decision for "Leave of Court" because it was a Saturday. The following Monday I faced a complaint for that vital decision I rendered," Sangko pleaded. "Must I be persecuted for doing such a humanitarian act?" he questioned. "I am just their warden, everyday I browse elbows with them, and like them, I am also a father…I am their friend, and above all I am a human being. Can they take away this human factor in me when a human-detainee is in intense physical pain?", the emotionally filled conversation went on.

The recent attack on the warden sprang upon the arrest of trustee/detainee Jose Desoloc who was on the steering wheel of Sangko’s multi-cab which was parked near Borongan market. He revealed that Desoloc was about to be "released on bail" the week he was arrested and on the day he was taken by the local police they were going to get a photo as part of this bail. He was with the detainee, but unknowing of the planned arrest, he alighted from the vehicle to unload some construction materials. It was then, when Desoloc was handcuffed.

But Desoloc’s arrest did not teach the jail officials a lesson. On March 23, another detainee/trustee Gabriel Bajasan was arrested a few meters from the jail which they say "a radius customarily allowed for detainees". Just like the former, the latter was also sent for an errand. Bajasan just like Desoloc was to be dismissed as a result of "failure to prosecute" in years.

But the two arrests have somehow added to headaches on Apelado’s part. As a custodial and rehabilitation officer in the PJ, he appeals that the "presumption of Innocence" be applied likewise on the two detainees.

"Both have not been convicted, and even if they were caught outside, they did not commit a crime," he proclaimed.

Apparently, Apelado is in limbo. Being a warden, his human factor and legal functions just like his heart and mind contradict. Some rumored personal misgivings had been asked of the interviewee and he admitted.

"I am neither a saint, I admit I sinned before my family, but I am paying for this misdemeanor, by correcting my actions in the process…what is important I have sinned but I am learning the lessons from it." He concluded.