Two jail officers relieved after Bago shooting

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Two jail officers assigned to the Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) in Bago City were relieved from their posts effective Wednesday, July 30, following a shooting incident targeting one of them on Monday.

The relief order was issued by Jail Chief Supt. Brendan Fulgencio, director of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology–Negros Island Region (BJMP–NIR), pending an administrative investigation by the regional office.

Jail Senior Insp. Juniven Umadhay, chief of the legal service section in the region, said both jail officers assigned to operations were transferred to an undisclosed location for security reasons.

Umadhay explained that the colleague of the target was included in the relief order to avoid influencing the investigation.

Both officers had interactions with persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), and the regional bureau is investigating whether the attack was work-related or personal.

In a statement released Wednesday, the BJMP–NIR ordered a parallel investigation to determine the motive behind the attempt on the jail officer’s life.

“He will discern and determine whether the attempt was due to his job as a jail officer and his interaction with PDLs so we can initiate the necessary legal and administrative response,” the statement said.

Fulgencio said he will not tolerate any wrongdoing by his personnel but emphasized that the agency will protect officers who lawfully perform their duties and may be targeted by unscrupulous individuals.

The BJMP–NIR assured the public that it remains committed to providing professional, credible service and the humane safekeeping and development of PDLs.

The jail officer was at a car wash in front of the jail facility when two unidentified individuals on a motorcycle arrived and shot at him.

Fortunately, he was able to seek cover on the vehicle, thus he was unharmed.

However, a tricycle driver, who happened to pass by the area was injured after he was hit by a suspected stray bullet or fragment from broken glasses.

Umadhay said they are coordinating with police alongside their internal investigation.