Labella asks warden to monitor entry of contraband at city jail

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella has instructed the city jail warden to impose stricter monitoring on the entry of prohibited items inside the jail facility.

Labella, chairman of the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council, issued the order to Superintendent Johnson Calub after he heard reports that the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center has confiscated at least 285 functional cellular phones this year.

During the PCAC meeting yesterday, Labella asked Calub to be very strict in conducting inspection to prevent incidents at the CPDRC from happening at the Cebu City Jail.

"According to him (Calub), as much as possible, zero gyod," Labella said.

Labella said Calub has already assured PCAC of a stricter inspection especially this month where visitations of inmates' kin are at its peak.

For the holidays, Labella said that the city jail is extending the visiting hours for the inmates to enjoy their time with their families and relatives.

With this, Labella said that there is a need to impose stricter inspection on the food and frisking of the visitors. He said that the city jail management is already doing something to control the proliferation of illegal articles inside the jail.

"Ingon siya (Calub), tagaan nila og gamay nga extension in the observance sa holiday season, but they should be more strict and more meticulous in monitoring and to prevent that incidents that prohibited articles will be brought inside," Labella said.

He cautioned the jail guards not to connive with the prisoners because it may cost them their job.

"It is punishable by dismissal from the service with an accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification toward public office and forfeiture of all retirement benefits," Labella said.—  (FREEMAN)