BJMP: Sta. Cruz Laguna District Jail ready to accept Atong Ang
By Chito Chavez
Despite the heavy congestion at the Sta. Cruz District Jail in Laguna, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology said the facility is ready to accept fugitive businessman Charlie "Atong" Ang once he is arrested.
In an interview, BJMP spokesperson Supt. Jayrex Bustinera said that all jail facilities in the Calabarzon area have been prepared even in the highly congested Sta. Cruz District Jail in Laguna.
On the part of the Sta,. Crus District Jail, the official said it has 699 percent congestion rate.
“Prepared na ang BJMP dyan (for Ang’s arrest). We have prepared all possible jails in Calabarzon. Most likely, Sta. Cruz District Jail with 699 percent congestion rate since the first warrant of arrest was issued by a court in Sta. Cruz Laguna (The BJMP is prepared for that. We have prepared all possible jails in Calabarzon. Most likely, Sta. Cruz District Jail with 699 percent congestion rate since the first warrant of arrest was issued by a court in Sta. Cruz Laguna),’’ Bustinera pointed out.
Bustinera pointed out that the other jails being prepared are Lipa City Jail and San Pablo City Jail, both are modern and newly built.
Even with a congestion rate of 699 percent, Bustinera said that the old Sta. Cruz District Jail can still accommodate Ang.
Likewise, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic Remulla’’ is pondering on raising the P10 million reward money for Ang’s arrest.
Remulla admitted that his patience is thinning and may actually increase the current bounty for any information leading to Ang’s arrest.
On Jan. 22, Remulla said that authorities received “raw information’’ that Ang may be hiding in Cambodia where he is supposedly setting up online sabong games.
Remulla noted that authorities have conducted the manhunt operation for Ang in 14 possible locations in the country with the recent ones done in Cavite and Pampanga.