Six jail guards linked to drugs

CEBU, Philippines - The jail warden of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center reported at least six names of jail guards believed to be involved in the smuggling of illegal drugs into the jail facility.

Warden Romeo Manansala submitted his report yesterday to Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III. Manansala, however, refused to divulge the names of the jail guards pending investigation.

Manansala said the suspects were identified by at least four of his key persons. According to him, he collated the individual reports of his administrative officer, intelligence officer, roving inspector, and security officer and the names of these six jail guards were consistent in all of the reports.

 “Akong gipahatag sila (key persons) sa lista. Gikan sa akong key persons akong gitan-aw, consistent ang mga pangalan,” Manansala told reporters.

Manansala said that some of the suspects have been working with the provincial government for almost 20 years. He explained that what made them to suspect the six jail guards were their actions shown inside the facility.

Some were reportedly caught drunk while on duty and failed to conduct screening and inspection in the facility. Manansala added that the matter involving the six jail guards would be referred to Capitol’s Committee on Discipline and Investigation.

While the investigation is being conducted, Manansala requested for the reassignment of the six jail guards, and additional security personnel at the jail. He explained that once the six jail guards would be reassigned, the facility would lack security personnel considering that there are only 60 of them manning the facility which has over 2, 000 inmates.

“Maglisod gyod ta,” Manansala said.

The Capitol has yet to enter a contract with Tactical Security Agency and GDS Security and Detective Agency which could provide additional personnel to CPDRC.

The investigation for the CPDRC jail guards stemmed from the seizure of the drug paraphernalia inside the detention facility and the claim of a suspected female drug pusher arrested in Liloan that she got her supply from somebody at the CPDRC.  (FREEMAN)