Mandaue jail suspends visits
Mandaue City Jail personnel and their chief are facing possible relief over the fatal shooting of inmate Steve Go, a suspected drug lord.
Investigators of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) 7 have started their inquiry on how a .38 revolver was sneaked inside the facility. The gun, which reportedly belonged to Go, was used by inmate Cresenciano Heyrana in shooting the former last Tuesday morning.
Chief Insp. Dennis Aliño, BJMP 7 information officer, said they will determine who is at fault in failing to detect the gun. He said the city jail has 55 personnel and they will be included in the investigation.
Last Friday morning, a silicon sex toy found in Go’s cell was among the contraband seized during a surprise inspection of the Mandaue jail.
Aliño said they will welcome investigations by other government agencies, including the Commission on Human Rights 7 and National Bureau of Investigation 7.
Police Regional Office 7 Director Debold Sinas said they are leading the investigation.
Heyrana is being secured. He is facing multiple charges—violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), illegal possession of firearms, murder, and resistance to an agent in authority.
Aliño said that Go, who had an enlargement of the heart, often instigated trouble in the past.
Go was an inmate of Mandaue City Jail from 2009 until 2014. He had been jailed after his involvement in a robbery with homicide.
He was transferred to Talisay City Jail for starting a riot, then to Carcar City Jail and back to Talisay City Jail. Afterwards, he was returned to Mandaue City Jail.
“He was influential to his fellow inmates,” Aliño said.
All visiting privileges are suspended until the investigation on Go’s death is finished, said Supt. Jessie Calumpang, the jail warden. Last June 14, the warden said, a commotion broke out in the rear portion of the city jail. Some personnel saw a piece of nylon hanging from the wall, which could have been used to deliver contraband. They also saw a hole that had been bored in one of the prison walls.
“We will scrutinize the whole building,” said Calumpang.
Heyrana, the man who shot Go, began serving time in the Mandaue prison last Dec. 21, 2016 for several cases, including illegal possession of firearms, illegal drugs, car theft, murder, and traffic violations.
“While it’s unfortunate that it happened inside the city jail itself, clearly he (Go) chose a very wrong path. He was said to be involved in illegal drugs. He got what was coming to him but it is my understanding that the BJMP is conducting an investigation and review,” said Mayor Luigi Quisumbing.