By Joel M. Sy Egco

The Quezon City Jail warden is back in hot water for allegedly renting out jail space to well-heeled inmates.

Supt. Nestor Velasquez, who was earlier taken to task by Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Vicente Sotto III for giving VIP treatment to Taiwanese drug traffickers inside the QC jail, also took the flak from an inmate over a questionable fund collection.

Copies of the complaint letter were reportedly sent to 22 government officials by the inmate, known only by his first name Dennis.

He detailed a number of practices that Velasquez allowed such as collecting money to buy new uniforms.

Copies of the letter were also sent to reporters, prompting Bureau of Jail Management and Penology chief Director Rosendo Dial to do a surprise jail inspection which Dial shrugged off as ?routine.?

In yet another controversy, Velasquez was alleged to be ?selling? or ?renting? space to well-off jailbirds.

According to insiders, the practice has elbowed out certain detainees who have no other choice but to sit it out on the basketball court.

But a furious Velasquez denies the accusations with a straight face.

?How could there be space to spare for these inmates when there is practically no space left at Quezon City Jail? Space is a luxury here and nobody could afford it. It is priceless because it is not for sale,? he said.

The Quezon City government under Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. provides food subsidies to about 2,840 detainees squeezed into a 707-square meter enclosure that is designed to hold 236 occupants.