Kin of Alabang Boys barred from bringing food at PDEA facility

MANILA, Philippines - Relatives of three suspects in the celebrated Alabang drugs case have been barred from bringing them food at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) custodial facility in Quezon City.

PDEA spokesman Derrick Arnold Carreon said Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph, and Joseph Tecson will not be allowed to “brandish their wealth” before the other inmates.

“Mas mahigpit tayo sa kanila ngayon,” he said.

“Security at the custodial center has really been beefed up. They get what everybody else gets. We don’t want any disparity.”

Carreon said the PDEA will make Brodett, Joseph, and Tecson “feel how it is to be a regular inmate” now that President Arroyo has ordered the filing of criminal charges for drug dealing and possession against them.

“They brandish their wealth here,” he said. “Everyone eats the same thing. The conditions will be much worse at the city jails.”

Visitors will now have to talk to Brodett, Joseph, and Tecson “through the grills” and no longer in an “up close and personal” manner, Carreon said.

The three are detained at the PDEA’s custodial center with 30 other suspected drug offenders.

Brodett and Joseph were arrested in Alabang, Muntinlupa, while Tecson was nabbed in Cubao, Quezon City in September last year.

Based on the place where they were arrested, the courts will order their transfer to that city’s jail where they will be held without bail while undergoing trial.  – Michael Punongbayan