PNP wants better security for Masbate jail

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippine National Police wants better security at the Masbate Provincial Jail stressing the possibility that inmates detained there could be used by some corrupt politicians to serve as their assassins.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina lamented that security at the Masbate Provincial Jail is so lax that inmates are being used to do menial repair jobs at the facility.

“That should not be allowed. You could virtually walk out of the jail without being noticed,” said Espina.

Espina said security at the Masbate Provincial Jail should be improved considering that the island province is among the areas being watched by the PNP for election-related violence.

Just recently, PNP chief Jesus Versoza personally went to Masbate to confer with local police and military officials regarding the state of order in the province. While in Masbate, Versoza also met with members of the commission that was created by Malacañang to look into the problem of partisan armed groups.

“There are four identified partisan armed groups in Masbate. There are eight still being verified. These partisan armed groups work for unscrupulous candidates,” Espina said.

Espina said that unless checked, the Masbate Provincial Jail is a rich source of guns for hire for corrupt politicians and criminal syndicates.

Espina cited the case of Alberto Asillar Choy alias Albert Choy who was a member of a notorious kidnap for ransom group composed of former inmates who hail from the provinces of Samar and Masbate.                            – Mike Frialde