Harsher penalties sought for jailed drug kingpins

MANILA, Philippines — Drug kingpins who have been lording it over national penitentiaries for decades may soon spend more years behind bars once a measure at the House of Representatives is approved and concurred in by the Senate.

House Bill 9153, or the proposed Contraband Detection and Control Act, seeks to impose jail term ranging from 20 to 40 years and a fine of P5 million to P10 million to any person who shall introduce, convey or attempt to introduce or convey dangerous drugs, firearms and explosives, or those who will be caught in possession inside a prison facility.

“This bill aims to prevent the proliferation of contraband in prison by mandating all agencies and LGUs (local government units) that operate and maintain any correctional, custodial or detention facility to establish and implement a Contraband Detection and Control System,” Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said.

Barbers, who authored the measure, chairs the House committee on dangerous drugs.

He stressed that the bill is “necessary” in order for “our government agencies to impose the appropriate penalties for persons and syndicates who continue to commit illegal activities inside detention facilities, especially convicted drug lords and hardened criminals.”

For the longest time, the senior administration lawmaker from Mindanao pointed out that these drug lords have been using these facilities as their “own protected kingdom” in the pursuance of their criminal activities even while incarcerated.

HB 9153 was approved by lawmakers on second reading in a plenary session last week. It seeks to put an end to the proliferation of prohibited objects or items inside all penal, custodial and detention facilities.

The definition of the word “contraband” includes any object prohibited by law like firearms and ammunition, explosives, deadly weapons and the like, such that these objects could endanger the safety or security of persons inside such prison facilities, or to the public, in general.

The introduction, conveyance or possession of other kinds of contraband in prison as defined under HB 9153 shall be punished by imprisonment ranging from six years to 12 years, and a fine of not less than P1 million, but not more than P5 million.

Under the bill, the implementation of a Contraband Detection and Control System includes the use of handled and walk-through metal detectors, X-ray scanners, K-9 units and other modern technology and devices.

Public officials, jail authorities and employees who violate any provision of the bill shall also be penalized with perpetual absolute disqualification, among others.