Iloilo City Cultural Heritage: Old Iloilo Prison Building

Brief History of the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center
(Formerly Iloilo Provincial Jail)

The Iloilo Rehabilitation Center, Iloilo City formerly called Iloilo Prov’1 Jail was constructed in late 1911 with a land area of 3,807.13 square meters with only one building to house not more than 150 violators of law. This building was constructed under the administration of Honorable Ruperto Montinola as the Governor, W. W. Barclay as Treasurer, George J. Muni as acting Treasurer, Cirilo Mapa, as Third Member, and H. 0. Leary as Contractor.

This institution served as a penitentiary until World War ll broke out. During the War Era, Japanese Imperial Forces utilized this building to detain prisoners of war especially American soldiers together with some Filipinos until a move to convert this building into a garrison.

After the war, when peace was regained this building was again restored into a prison.

During the time of Honorable Governor Jose Zulueta, a barbed wire fence was installed around the building to secure the compound and deter possible escape. Under the Administration of Honorable Governor Rafael Palmares, a lot of improvements were made. With Major Jose Perlas, Jr. as Provincial Warden, the barbed wire fence was changed into concrete with hollow blocks produced through the efforts of prisoners’ labor. A water tank was constructed, a canopy to protect inmates in their cells from rain, a guard’s quarters on the rooftop were constructed and. a footwalk inside the compound was cemented.

Due to attempts by a few prisoners to escape the underground passage, barbed wire was installed above the concrete fence.

During the administration of Honorable Governor Conrado Norada, Major Eduardo Tajanlangit (Ret.) was the Provincial Warden. The wooden door at the main gate was changed into steel bars to tighten security measures due to the increase in the number of inmates. When Captain Tomas Bonite took over as the Provincial Warden barbed wire was installed on the rooftop to resist escape attempts. A Women’s cell was built to give an ideal place for the detention of women prisoners. Sunday mass was held at an improvised chapel under retired Army Chaplain Fr. Vacante. A cooperative for Prison Guards was organized. Inmates were taught cottage industries by the Social Welfare Administration (SWA). Still under the administration of Honorable Governor Conrado Norada with Major Maximo Sagge as the Provincial Warden. Due to congestion problems a New annex building was constructed in 1984. Sports activities like volleyball and basketball among inmates were intensified.

With the past administration, honorable Governor Simplicio C. Griño and Colonel Romeo S. Fernandez (Ret.) as the Provincial Warden a move was initiated to rename the Iloilo Provincial Jail and on June 8, 1988, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Iloilo under Resolution No. 61, Series of 1988 in a session approved the renaming of the Iloilo Provincial Jail into Iloilo Rehabilitation Center to change the old concept and align the present purpose of jail management, that is rehabilitation-transformation. Various programs were introduced moral and spiritual upliftment programs, religious and counseling services, and industrial/ educational programs. Face lifting of the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center compound and surroundings by repainting and whitewashing.

On April 22, 1992, Lt. Col. Alberto Q. Napatang was designated as Acting Provincial Warden.