Relieve jail officers

Following the seizure of several contrabands last week, the Cebu City Jail has asked the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-7 to relieve six of the 132 jail officers assigned at the facility.

City Jail Warden Arnel Peralta said he has submitted to BJMP names of six jail officers who have allegedly connived with inmates.

“Ipa-relieve gyod nato kay dunay allegations nga involved sila sa pagpalusot sa contrabands sa atong facility. We were directed by the regional office nga bisan og mere suspicion lang, atong iparelieve ug ipa-reassign to other area para dili gyod maka-penetrate sa atong facility,” he said.

More names may be submitted.

“Wala namo giusa tanan og hatag sa pangalan. Dili lang na unom, nag-evaluate pa pod mi sa uban, but we are not relieving all jail guards,” he said.

Peralta said the last week’s “Oplan Galugad” resulted to the confiscation of drug paraphernalia, lighters, cellular phones, improvised weapons, weighing scale, needles, appliances, and nubain.

“At the very start, our bureau is in the light of campaigning on the removal and punishment of scalawags and personnel or officers involved in illegal drug trade and corruption, offensive operations versus illegal drugs inside the facilities,” Peralta said in a May 18 letter to Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

In the same letter, Peralta asked that the city assist the jail management in testing all 4,350 inmates for drugs. Councilor David Tumulak confirmed the request.

“Naay gihangyo nga communication si Peralta nga malibre ang drug test sa 4,350 inmates sa City Jail kay mao sad ang sugyot sa national headquarters. Sa city government, wala na maapil sa pundo karong tuiga,” Tumulak said.

He said he will ask the mayor to approve the request and ask that jail officers be included in the drug test.

“Kung approved sa mayor, mosugyot ta nga ipaapil sa supplemental budget. Mohangyo ko sa mayor nga mo-finance ang syudad kay magamit pod ang drug test para maka hatag pod ta og rehabilitation program sa inmates,” he said.

Peralta said the drug test will not be mandatory but those found still using drugs will be made to undergo rehabilitation.

“Most probably, kon naay mag-positive nato dinha, mo-subject na for validation and evaluation. Posible gyod nga naay drugas gihapon nga nakasulod. So, atong pangitaan og more sophisticated nga solution para ma totally eradicate ang drogas sa atong facilities,” he said.

PCAC

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella informed Tumulak he will convene the Cebu City’s Police Coordinating and Advisory Council tomorrow.

It has been over a year since the last time PCAC was convened.

In a letter to Tumulak, Labella said the city has enacted City Ordinance No. 2389 also known as the Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 2209 titled “An Ordinance creating Cebu City Police Coordinating and Advisory Council in the Office of the Mayor.”

The objective of the ordinance, Labella said, is to coordinate efforts of government agencies involved in law enforcement and recommend to the mayor interventions needed to improve the general peace and order situation in the city.

PCAC is composed of local and national agencies such as the Department of Interior and Local Government-7, National Police Commission-7, National Bureau of Investigation-7, Association of Barangay Councils, chairman on City Council’s committee on peace and order, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development, City Prosecutor of the City of Cebu, and Cebu City Police Office.

Tumulak said he will attend the first meeting of PCAC.

“Motambong ko kung unsa poy tumong sa PCAC pero mo-consult pa kong mayor pod ana kay siya ang chief executive man. So, we need to ask his ideas pod sa pag maintain sa peace and order sa syudad para mo align ta sa iyang plano,” he said.

Tumulak said it is better to have just one group since the city has PCAC, Peace and Order Council, and Police Advisory Council.