As another journey starts this new year, the management of the Iloilo Provincial Integrated Jail (IPIJ) under officer-in-charge Supt. Larry Fuentes will be coming up with new programs that will benefit inmates.

Fuentes, who temporarily replaced Supt. Joel Superficial, said he will focus on the enhancement of the inmates’ welfare development and legal services.

The IPIJ has 704 detained inmates after 61 of them were released from jail due to lack of evidences and psychological problems.

Fuentes said the current detainees were mostly charged with heinous crimes such as murder, rape and homicide. Other inmates were charged of illegal drugs, robbery, and estafa among others.

He admitted that court hearings of these inmates’ cases are slow because of the lack in lawyers. This could lead to inmates spending a long time in jail and later on, just proven innocent.

Apart from this, inspections of baggage, frisking and strip inspection of all female visitors will be strictly implemented inside the jail following the confiscation of dried marijuana leaves inside one of the 16 lock-up cells.

Fuentes said those who refused to be inspected by the jail guards will not be allowed to go inside the facility.*