Niño visit prods inmates to give up contraband

CEBU, Philippines - For once, it did not take a greyhound operation for Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center inmates to surrender their contraband.

During the visit of the image of Sto. Niño at the CPDRC Monday, a few inmates voluntarily turned over three cellphones and 10 sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P10,000, to jail management.

The image of the Holy Child stayed overnight at the provincial jail as part of the 452nd anniversary of “Kaplag”, which commemorates the discovery of the wooden image now known as the miraculous Santo Niño de Cebu.

CPDRC officer-in-charge Bobby Legaspi said the inmates were told to surrender contraband items to lessen their sins and offenses.

“We told them… for Sto. Niño, just turn over your contraband. Because now they know that if we do greyhound, extra charges will be filed against the inmate caught with contraband,” he said.

Meanwhile, one of the signal jammers installed at the CPDRC reportedly malfunctioned due to a technical problem, according to Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III.

“Connection sa wiring kuno. Karaan na man sad gud ang wiring connections diha sa CPDRC,” he said.

Legaspi, though, clarified that the jammer did not malfunction but that it was just not properly mounted.

“It’s functioning but…it was not mounted correctly,” he said.

In February, three signal jammers were installed to ensure that inmates can no longer communicate outside.

A signal jammer is used to prevent cellular phones from receiving signals, including mobile internet and wireless fidelity. Radio frequency, however, will not be affected as well as landline telephones. (FREEMAN)