CEBU, Philippines - The mayor of the municipality of Consolacion said that the report on her town having the most number of detainees at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center does not surprise her at all.
Mayor Teresa Alegado said that the large number was just the result of the town’s intensive campaigns against illegal drugs.
“I am not surprised kay hapit everyday dakop man, gyod. Gamay or dako dakop, hipos na lang. Kanus-a pa man nato sila (violators) mapatagam kung di nato sila ipapriso, (…we conduct operations almost everyday. When will they learn their lesson if we don’t put them in jail?),” said Alegado, adding that the arrest of those who violate is done impartially and without hesitation.
According to Alegado, the parents of some of those arrested came to her office and appealed to her.
“I told them friends ‘ta, kay mao man gyod ning mga ginikanan mohangyo sa mayor kung madakpan ilang anak, pero kadtong makasala, ilang anak ba or ilang bana ba ron, ako silang giingnan ayaw na lang pakita nako, (I told them we are friends, but if your son or husband is caught for illegal drugs, better off not seeing me),” she added.
Though Alegado believed that illegal drugs are still present in her municipality, she is hoping that the violators will all soon be caught with their serious campaign against these dangerous drugs.
“I know everywhere naa’y drugs, kining menace di na gyod ni maputol siguro, but I pray. Nothing is impossible with God,” the mayor said.
There are currently more than 2,000 detainees at CPDRC, which number went already beyond the 1,600 capacity.
As of June 12 this year, CPDRC’s Geographical Origin of Prisoners showed that a total of 206 inmates, regardless of the crime allegedly committed, are from Consolacion.
Next to Consolacion is Dalaguete town which has 158 inmates, followed by Liloan at 142, Argao at 139 and Barili at 88.
The crime index of inmates at the provincial jail also placed violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 at the top with a total of 956 cases, followed by murder which has a total of 649, and rape cases at 164. (FREEMAN)