PNP offers help to secure jails

CEBU, Philippines — Following the recent killing of a suspected drug lord at the Mandaue City Jail, the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas has offered to help the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in securing jail facilities to prevent entry of contrabands, especially deadly weapons.

PRO-7 director Chief Supt. Debold Sinas said he will meet with the BJMP-7 officials to discuss how they can collaborate.

 “Mag-istorya mi sa Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-7 to discuss on how the Philippine National Police could join in the investigation and how to help secure the jail,” Sinas said.

Sinas said the PNP can also help monitor the activities of inmates, especially those who are involved in illegal drugs. Reports had it that most drug personalities, including Steve Go, continue their illegal operations from inside the jail facilities.

“Kahibaw mo nga si Steve Go bisan naa na sa jail nag-operate gihapon siya, that’s what we will discuss,” Sinas said.

Go, 40, was shot dead by another inmate shortly before noon on Tuesday after a heated argument in the middle of a betting game. Go was allegedly playing “hantak” with the suspect, Cresenciano Heyrana, 41, before the shooting happened.

According to the reports, Go drew out a .38 caliber revolver but was wrestled by Heyrana. The victim succumbed to several gunshot wounds to the head.

Go’s family, however, doubts the claim of the BJMP officials. According to them, it is impossible for Heyrana to have overpowered Go because the later was bigger than him.

BJMP-7 spokesperson Jail Chief Inspector Dennis Aliño said there were other inmates who witnessed the incident. He said that as far as they are concerned, no other person was involved in the killing of Go.

He, however, said that they welcome the investigation of the Commission on Human Rights into the incident. The PNP Crime Laboratory has also completed the autopsy on Go but refused to release the results to the media.

“We are not allowed to disclose any information regarding our technical reports. Only the requesting party, which is the investigator on case, is entitled to the Crime Laboratory reports and other documents,” said PNP Crime Laboratory-7 chief Senior Superintendent Grace Eustaquio.

The police are also preparing criminal charges against Heyrana.

Administrative Probe

Meanwhile, Aliño said that the BJMP national office will look into the possible administrative liability of Mandaue City Jail Warden Jessie Calumpang.

He admitted that there was a serious breach in the security because of the entry of the gun into the jail facility. Aliño did not discount the possibility that Calumpang might be relieved from his post pending the investigation.

 “Ang BJMP bisag unsa pa ang perception on Steve Go para sa amoa naa ta obligation. We have to preserve and protect ang inmates…so we are as much interested ngano naa nakasulod (firearm),” Aliño said.

He explained that as much as they would have wanted Go to be secured in a high-security cell, they have limitations because of lack of manpower. Aliño said the Mandaue City Jail is undermanned with only 55 personnel securing the more than 1,800 inmates.

At CPDRC

Officials of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) assured the public, particularly the families of inmates, that they are tightening security measures in order for weapons like guns not to get inside the facility.

This year, no gun was confiscated by the authorities from the possession of the inmates during greyhound operations. CPDRC Warden Reynaldo Valmoria said they have a triple inspection process before an outsider can get into the facility and ensure that no contraband can get in.

“Paniguradoon nato nga dili na mahitabo,” he said, referring to the shooting of Go in Mandaue City Jail. — FPL (FREEMAN)