Transfer of 5 CPDRC guards sought; stricter security in city jail urged

CEBU, Philippines- The Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center management will request from the governor for the temporary reassignment of five jail personnel suspected to be involved in illegal drug smuggling inside the facility.

This should be done following the suspicion and while the investigation is still ongoing, CPDRC jail warden Romeo Manansala said.

According to Manansala, only CPDRC officials are conducting the investigation, which result is expected to be out next week.

Visiting hours in CPDRC resumed on Sunday after it was suspended following the confiscation of drug paraphernalia inside its detention cell.

An investigation was conducted against the five personnel who allegedly acted as ‘facilitators’ in sneaking the drugs inside the jail.

Pending the investigation, the names of the five suspected personnel cannot be divulged yet.

Once the allegation is proven, the fate of the jail guards will be determined by the Capitol’s Committee on Discipline and Investigation chaired by Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella said he is glad that City Jail personnel have not been involved in the smuggling of illegal drugs inside the jail.

However, he said Cebu City Jail, formerly known as the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center, should continue to impose more stringent security measures to prevent the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the jail facility.

“Would they put their career in danger by committing irregular acts? They are career officials, if they are convicted or found guilty of misconduct or dishonesty, as far as being dismissed in the service, we will have accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification to hold public office and forfeiture of all retirement benefits,” Labella said.

City jail warden Johnson Calub said he is not a hundred percent sure if City Jail employees are in connivance in smuggling illegal drugs, adding that there is no perfect management.

“We are also career professionals; we are national in scope as BJMP (Bureau of Jail and Management Penology). Kun mangdelihensya man gali ka, kay dili man gyud na nato malikayan, ikaw ang lugi kay ang imong future at stake, because you have your family,” he said.

Calub said drugs are still being smuggled inside the cells, but they are trying to fight it.  —/NSA) (FREEMAN)