AROUND 500 inmates in Compostela Valley held a noise barrage and hunger strike over the slow resolution of their cases.
Jail warden Melvin Coquilla, in a news report, said almost all 563 inmates in Compostela Valley Provincial Rehabilitation Center, which is based in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, have been conducting a noise barrage thrice a day since last week.
Hanimay Suazo, Karapatan secretary general, said this has been the "second wave" of their noise barrage. The first was on October 26-30.
She said the noise barrage is held at the rooftop three times a day for 15 minutes, while hunger strike started on November 27 until December 2.
She said the inmates' action was meant to expedite their cases, provide medical care for elderly and sickly inmates, improve the rehabilitation center facilities and release the political prisoners.
Suazo said there are 31 political prisoners in Davao Region, 16 of them are detained at the Compostela Valley jail.
"Baliktad na ang mundo, ang gina-aresto ang mga inosente, pero kaning nay mga dakong sala sama ni Arroyo dili ginakulong (The world has changed, the innocent are being arrested, while people who have committed crimes like Arroyo is not jailed)," she said.
She said the inmates also demanded for an additional court to handle their cases since only branch 3 of the Compostela Valley Regional Trial Court handles the cases of the inmates at present.
