CPDRC warden gets intel: Five jail guards in drug trade?

CEBU, Philippines - Following the seizure of drug paraphernalia inside a detention cell at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, five of its personnel are now being suspected of involvement in the smuggling of illegal drugs inside the jail.

This was revealed by CPDRC jail warden Romeo Manansala, who said that an investigation is being conducted.

 “Naa ta’y ngalan nga apil but ang investigation ongoing pa,” he said.

Governor Hilario Davide III, who earlier expressed his trust in the CPDRC management despite reports of the presence of illegal drugs inside the facility, has directed Manansala and Capitol consultant on jail matters Marco Toral to immediately conduct an investigation regarding the matter.

He suggested subjecting the suspected CPDRC personnel to a drug test.

 “Crucial kaayo ‘nang jail facility. They are supposed to be government employees. They are supposed to protect the interest of the provincial government unya mo-facilitate sila og pag-peddle og drug diha sa sulod. So they are equally liable as the (drug) users,” Davide told reporters.

CPDRC management is also still investigating the seizure of the drug paraphernalia last Wednesday inside a detention cell of the jail, and are trying to determine how they were sneaked into the jail despite the strict measures.

The inspection was conducted following the claim of an alleged drug pusher arrested in Liloan town that she sourced the drug from a detainee at CPDRC, a jail facility known for its dancing inmates. During the inspection, CPDRC officials seized drug paraphernalia and gadgets from the detention cell where the detainee mentioned by the alleged pusher was assigned.

Davide said he was told that the CPDRC management will report to him within a week.

The Cebu Provincial Anti-drug Abuse Commission is also collaborating with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 in conducting an investigation to verify the report that some CPDRC personnel are involved in drug smuggling inside the facility.

“Kung tinuod man gani nga naay lima ka personnel sa CPDRC, I’m sure either taktakon ba pero kung regular i-re-assign,” said CPADAC Executive Director Joey Herrera.

Meanwhile, another surprise inspection was conducted by a team of agents from PDEA-7 last Sunday at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center.

PDEA-7 operations chief Mark Dave Maramba said that a team of agents conducted a surprise check bringing with them three drug-sniffing dogs.

The dogs and PDEA agents checked the cells one by one, but did not find illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia, Maramba said.

He denied reports that they conducted the inspection due to allegations that some of the jail guards are suspected of helping smuggle drugs to inmates, he said they did it because they were asked to help CPDRC solve the alleged illegal drug problem.

Maramba said although they have received reports alleging some jail guards are part of the illegal trade inside the jail facility, they could not confirm this.

Aside from CPDRC they have also reported receiving similar allegations regarding guards in almost all of the jails in the region.  — With Bryner L. Diaz/BRP (FREEMAN)