Warden claims: Drug smuggling in jail done by "bombing"

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Jail warden Marivic Jimenez claims that the smuggling of illegal drugs and other contrabands into the jail facility is being done by unscrupulous people using the “bombing method” through the perimeter fence.

Jimenez said that illegal drugs, cigarettes, cellular phones and other illegal items are thrown from outside the perimeter fence into the prison compound. Such illegal activity seemed to have thrived in spite of the six tower guards stationed on top of the perimeter fence.

She denied allegations that some unscrupulous jail personnel are the ones responsible in the smuggling. An informer told The FREEMAN that the jail guards themselves are the ones smuggling drugs, cigarettes and cellphones.

According to the informer, jail guards are selling cellphones to inmates at a very high price on top of the drugs that has become a lucrative business for them at the City Jail.

The alleged illegal activities at the jail prompted Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña during his administration as mayor to cut off the monthly rice allowance to the jail.

Jimenez however is confident that the P200,000 rice allowance will be restored soon by Mayor Michael Rama. According to her, Rama’s security consultant Romeo Cordova told her that the rice allowance will be approved soon.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young however is not keen to restore the rice allowance for the city jail inmates. He even said in jest to give them shabu instead.

“Hatagan lang tingali nato sila’g shabu para malipay sila, ayaw lang ang rice ug cash allowance,” Young said. - (THE FREEMAN)