CEBU, Philippines - Police have assured that they will continue their anti-illegal drugs operation despite the problem of congestion in several detention cells in police stations in Cebu province as the Philippine National Police resumes its anti-drug campaign nationwide.
"Hindi pwedeng titigil tayo sa operations. Kahit mapuno man, we will continue our operations against illegal drugs," said Police Regional Office Region (PRO7)-7 Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño.
Taliño said that police stations are experiencing this problem because of the increase in arrests during police operations and the time it takes for due process of the required commitment order from the judicial court.
"Kasi ang police station ay isang temporary cell. Kung may nahuli, ini-imbestigahan hanggang na i-file yung kaso dun sa police station, but it is the judge who orders the commitment kung saan ikukulong, kung dadalhin sa CPDRC," Taliño said.
Cebu City Police Office Police Senior Superintendent Joel Doria said, "Kaya nagkakaroon ng congestion, yung commitment order, medyo nade-delay... Once na-issue yung commitment order, they will be transferred to Cebu City jail. Wala tayong magagawa kundi maghintay talaga, kasi hindi naman natin control yun."
In Cordova Police Station, for example, they have gone beyond the capacity of male inmates housed in their stockade that nine male detainees had to be transferred to the female quarters temporarily.
Taliño explained that a commitment order needs to be issued from the Regional Trial Court in order for a detainee to be transferred to a facility.
He added that the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) had written a formal letter to the director of PRO-7 that it would not be accepting new detainees because it has already reached the maximum number of detainees.
"Unfortunately, hindi tinatanggap so bumabalik sa pulis. I understand meron nang initial coordination yung court, yung BJMP, o yung in charge sa kulungan natin, kasi kawawa naman yung pulis kasi sa atin naiipon yung mga inmates," Taliño said.
Police jurisdiction of those arrested will be considered, among others, before any type of cross-prison transfers will happen. (FREEMAN)