Manila jail raid nets paddles, syringes, petroleum jelly

MANILA, Philippines — Aside from knives, playing cards and bottles of liquor, enforcers who raided inmates’ cells at the Manila City Jail yesterday morning also found paddles, syringes and jars of petroleum jelly. 

Personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 3 raided Dorms 13 and 14 of the jail at around 11 a.m.

They found pirated movies, cigarettes, carpentry tools, wires and gas burners as well as spoons and forks that could be used as weapons.

No mobile phones or illegal drugs were found in the inmates’ cells during the hour-long raid.

Jail personnel said the syringes and petroleum jelly  could be used for penile enlargement.

One jail staff said records show an inmate complained about a deformed penis, which was later blamed on the injections of petroleum jelly he received. 

Photo shows some of the contraband seized from inmates’ cells. GHIO ONG

The raid is part of the continuing Oplan Linis-Piitan or Oplan Greyhound by the BJMP, Manila City Jail spokesman Senior Inspector Jayrex Bustinera told reporters yesterday.

Inmates proven to own the contraband will be subjected to disciplinary action or sent to the Metro Manila District Jail at Camp Bagong Diwa, he said.

Jail personnel might also face charges for conniving with prisoners, Bustinera said.

However, inmates whose cells were searched denied owning the contraband. 

The STAR learned from some inmates in Dorms 13 and 14 – most of them members of the Commando jailhouse gang – that the contraband might have come from inmates who are members of other jail gangs.

Superintendent Randell Latoza, formerly the warden of the Quezon City Jail, took over as the new warden of the Manila City Jail starting on Oct. 1.