Villavicencio prison walls could collapse due to structural problems

Even in the worst nightmares would anyone imagine the scenario of being buried by a heavy wall six meters high. Because of much smaller risks than that, construction workers require to wear helmets to perform their duties. However, the 700 prisoners of the Villavicencio Prison (Meta), plus their guards, residents of the 20 de Julio and La Vainilla neighborhoods, students from neighboring schools and anyone who has to pass through the sector on foot or with their vehicle, are exposed to this danger every day.

One of the perimeter walls of this prison, which measures 200 meters wide by six meters high, is located between gates 1 and 2, and is 15 centimetres inclined. Not only is it at imminent risk of collapse, but part of the structure came off in 2019 and was half repaired. It is not the only one, there is another one that is located between gates 3 and 4 with cracks and could collapse at any time.

“Logically, it shows an imminent risk of collapse. The danger they can cause to institute officials, persons deprived of liberty, civilian personnel on public roads, as well as a massive escape of prisoners of liberty,” said dragonist Johan Alarcón, president of the Sintrapecun union, on Caracol Radio.

According to the union leader, over the past two years, the prison has sent 10 warning and prevention requests to the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (INPEC) and another three to the Prison and Prison Services Unit (Uspec), which is the entity responsible for maintaining prison infrastructure. They have also insisted before the Mayor's Office of Villavicencio, the Government of Meta, the Comptroller's Office, the Procurator's Office and the Personería. No one has ever dealt with the situation.

Carlos Morales, director in charge of the Villavicencio Prison, assured the local newspaper Llano Sie7edías that the maximum he has achieved is a verbal agreement with Uspec to allocate resources dedicated to the repair of the wall. However, this intention has not been formalized and time continues to pass. Moreover, according to his calculations, this arrangement would cost two billion pesos.

Last Wednesday, April 20, the director of Uspec, Andrés Díaz Hernández, came up to the controversy and announced that 900 million pesos will be sent to make the necessary locative repairs. According to the official, the work would be awarded mid-year to begin in the second half of 2022.

On the other hand, the prison in question has a number of other problems: it is located in a residential area, it is overcrowded and can no longer be expanded. Diaz Hernández said there are plans to move this prison to the municipality of San Martín. However, for Director Morales, the lots available to build the prison do not have the requirements to support such buildings.

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