CEBU, Philippines - Security at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) remains intact.
This was the assurance of Governor Hilario Davide III following the supposed shootout at the sub-provincial jail in Baybay, Leyte that resulted in the death of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa last Saturday.
Personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) - 8 claimed they were serving Espinosa a search warrant for illegal firearms when the mayor and Raul Yap, another inmate, allegedly opened fire, prompting the operatives to return fire and kill the two.
Jail guards, however, said they heard Espinosa pleading the CIDG not to plant evidence shortly before gunshots were heard from inside the jail.
"Ayaw gud ko ninyo planteri sir, wa koy armas nga gitago (Please do not plant evidence on me, sir, I am not hiding any gun here)," were reportedly Espinosa's last words.
Davide said even members of the augmentation force at the provincial jail are aware of the security policies in the jail, especially with the presence of Alvaro “Barok” Alvaro who is considered a high profile drug personality.
Davide said even the police cannot enter CPDRC easily unless they have permission from the jail management.
“Strikto man ta diha sa CPDRC… dili man sad ta, not just anybody can enter there, if mosulod ang (CIDG), they have to tell us unsay ilang purpose there… we cannot just let them in,” Davide said.
Sr. Inspector Zosimo Jabas, team leader of the Provincial Public Safety Company, the augmentation force at the jail, said his men can only secure the areas assigned.
He said Barok is still inside the isolation cell guarded.
There are 2,875 inmates inside the CPDRC. Of this number, 2, 705 are male and 170 are female.
At least 1,726 inmates are facing drug related cases, 634 are facing murder cases, 107 are facing frustrated murder charges, 151 are facing charges for illegal possession of firearms, and 147 are facing rape charges. —/JMO (FREEMAN)