Boy, 14, arrested for bringing marijuana into Mandaue jail

CEBU, Philippines - A jail guard at the Mandaue City Jail caught a 14-year-old boy bringing, among other things, rolled marijuana into the facility Thursday afternoon.

The boy, who resides in barangay Looc, Mandaue City was arrested by JO1 Marcelino Abucay who became suspicious to find a hole on the boy’s bag when this was presented for inspection.

Abucay found 36 sticks of marijuana in the bag inside a plastic container meant for food and later learned from the boy that these were intended for inmate Edward Baguio.

No marijuana were found in other plastic containers the boy had brought along.

Abucay said the boy had admitted being paid P13 by a neighbor named Joy Gestopa to do the job. He said the boy was more than glad to run errands and therefore earn something that day because it was his birthday.

The boy alleged he didn’t know marijuana was placed inside the plastic container.

He is now in the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Mandaue.

As soon as marijuana was found, jail warden Jesse Calumpang immediately ordered an investigation and coordinated with police for the arrest of Gestopa.

However, Gestopa eluded arrest. Only an alleged cohort, Raul Sangcap, was arrested in sitio Superior in barangay Looc for selling marijuana to a poseur buyer.

Sangcap is now detained at the  Subangdaku police station. – THE FREEMAN