BBRC search yields buried shabu...again

For the second time in two months, an inspection of the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center led to the discovery of buried shabu last Wednesday afternoon.

A joint team of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and Special Weapons and Tactics personnel discovered 125 packets of shabu and three mobile phones inside a bag buried near the chapel inside BBRC, practically the same area where a bag containing eight packs of shabu was discovered last month.

In both instances, authorities received information about the buried contraband from an inmate.

Councilor Augustus Pe, chairman of the city's committee on dangerous drugs admitted the discovery of the substances may indicate that efforts to heighten security at the city jail may not have worked after all.

Pe said one way to prevent the entry of drugs inside BBRC is by eliminating physical contact of inmates and visitors. However, this seems to be impossible with the present situation in BBRC, thus, Pe hopes the new facility in barangay Kalunasan will have a formal visiting area where a glass pane separates an inmate from a visitor and they can only communicate through a telephone.

Another option is to curtail conjugal visits, which, Pe said, relies on the discretion of the jail warden.

BBRC has started implementing stricter security measures for visitors due to several incidents wherein several substances were found on them. Even food being brought by visitors into the jail is inspected owing to reports that small packs of substances may be hidden in it.

Another controversial incident involved Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association supreme master Ruben Ecleo Jr. who was found with a woman inside his cell. - Joeberth M. Ocao