Aircon, phones, knives, shabu seized

Seven newly installed airconditioning units, a vibrator, two cellular phones, various improvised knives and bladed weapons, and three sachets of shabu were seized inside the Manila City Jail (MCJ) during a surprise inspection conducted yesterday morning by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

The inspection at the MCJ was followed by another at the Quezon City Jail yesterday as part of the BJMP’s "Oplan Grayhound" which was coordinated with the Philippine National Police-Anti Narcotics Group.

At the same time, BJMP director, Chief Superintendent Arturo Alit also ordered the 124 jail officers and men of the MCJ led by its warden Senior Superintendent Magumnang Dipantar to submit themselves to drug tests.

"Our personnel at the Manila City Jail have undergone a drug test. If they are found positive for drug use, we will file the appropriate charges against them. And if they are really hooked on drugs, we have no choice but to dismiss them," Alit said.

During the surprise inspection that started at about 5 a.m. and ended at 8 a.m., seven airconditioning units were found and seized from cells 2, 3, 5 and 10, all housing males inmates.

Also seized from the male inmates were various improvised bladed weapons, knives, screwdrivers and steel pipes.

Interestingly, the inspection team also seized from the male inmates a vibrator and a check for P3.4 million, Alit said.

Meanwhile, Dipantar stressed that there is no special treatment being accorded to some inmates of the city jail.

"We have no special treatment here. All the inmates are treated exactly the same. We also maintain strict security measures at the gates to prevent the smuggling of illegal items," said Dipantar.

Dipantar said that the confiscated airconditioning units were already installed in the jail when he assumed the post of warden on July 19 last year. — Mike Frialde