Drugs not reason for warden’s relief

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council committee on public order and safety clarifies that the relief of former Cebu City Jail Warden Jessie Calumpang was not due to his inability to totally eradicate illegal drugs in the facility.

In an interview, Councilor David Tumulak, who head the committee and is the city's Deputy Mayor over Police Matters, said that prior to the recent greyhound operation conducted in the jail facility last Saturday, Calumpang already knew that he will be relieved from his post.

“No, no, no, dili dili…Ang pagka-relieve ana ni Col. Jessie Calumpang last Friday, kahibawo na daan si Calumpang anang transfer and he will be replaced by another warden. Prior pa, before sa operation greyhound,” he said.

After the operation, there were insinuations that Calumpang will be relieved because there were contraband, including illegal drugs, still confiscated from the inmates.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña also said Calumpang’s failure to totally eliminate illegal drugs from the jail was not a major offense.

“You know, I’m just glad to hear that they have not discovered a lot of things there…at least better than the previous,” Osmeña said.

But Osmeña said he will clarify the matter with Tumulak.

Tumulak said he has no idea yet as to who will replace Calumpang but that the new jail warden will also be introduced to Osmeña.

Earlier, Tumulak commended the jail guards because there is a lesser amount of illegal drugs confiscated during the latest operation.

“So our jail facility, improving na siya based on the contraband confiscated compared to the previous Greyhound Operation… Gamay ra ang shabu nga nakuha, kuan raman siguro to 5 grams. It seems nga ang jail officers do their jobs. We’re just hoping to improve more. But still it traces questions. How come that contraband still get inside the facilities? Kadtong nadiskobrehan sa paddle, baseball bats, surround sound system, improvise weapons…gamay ra nuon, maihap ra siya,” he said.

But even with the intensified monitoring on whoever enters the premises, he said jail guards must improve their performance against smuggling of contraband.

The operation was planned last Friday and Tumulak was informed that afternoon by Cebu City Police Office Director Senior Superintendent Joel Doria and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency -7 Director Yogi Felimon Ruiz.

The operation was executed at 1:30 a.m. and ended at 5:30 a.m. last Saturday.

Tumulak is expected to discuss the jail congestion issue with Osmeña for them to come up with appropriate action.

Record shows that the city’s jail facility has 4,156 inmates. (FREEMAN)