Inside job in jail?
MANDAUE BJMP PERSONNEL PROBED
Operatives yesterday fished out sachets of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia, bladed weapons, syringes, cellphones, chargers, assorted gambling items, at least 25 TV sets, seven speakers, five amplifiers, and even a laptop during a raid of Mandaue City Jail.
It was an improvement from last week’s haul that included nothing more than a sex toy and some drug paraphernalia.
Nine shabu packets were found yesterday hidden among pillows inside the cell of slain alleged drug lord Steve Go, but since the cell is occupied by 48 inmates, authorities could not tell whether those drugs indeed belonged to him.
Jail Chief Superintendent Arnold Buenacosa, director of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Central Visayas, yesterday vowed to conduct a deeper investigation into how these items managed to find their way into the facility.
Among those who will be investigated are jail personnel themselves.
“Ito pong nakuha sa selda ng Mandaue City Jail ay paiimbestigahan natin. We will be conducting a thorough investigation why these things are inside the facility.
Focus sa investigation natin ay ang suspicion na may mga tao tayong involved sa pagpasok ng contrabands,” Buenacosa told reporters after the greyhound yesterday.
“Hindi lang personnel natin but also may dalaw din,” he added.
Buenacosa said he already has the names of city jail personnel to be investigated but he declined to reveal them pending investigation.
It may be recalled that seven Mandaue City Jail personnel were relieved from their posts two weeks ago for their alleged involvement in the smuggling of contrabands into the jail. Their relief has been put on hold to make way for investigation.
Sought for comment, Superintendent Jessie Calumpang, chief warden of Mandaue City Jail, said he would welcome any inquiry in connection to the presence of illegal items in the jail.
“Wala ra’y problema. Among gi-welcome ang any investigation nga i-conduct sa amoa if kung naay makita nga lapses,” he told The FREEMAN.
Calumpang, who stepped in as jail warden in November last year, said he does not yet have the names of personnel who may find themselves in hot water.
What he knew, he said, was that all jail workers and some inmates would be asked to give statements as part of investigation.
‘FISHING’ MODUS
Mandaue City Jail is home to 1,822 inmates, excluding those inside the female dormitory.
To address the entry of illegal items, jail authorities will tighten security at the facility’s back portion where contrabands are reportedly sneaked in through a modus called fishing or bombing.
With fishing, inmates would drop nylon down the ground outside and then pull it once the contraband has been attached by an outsider.
“Sa back portion na area ay mayroong pwedeng daanan ng contrabands. Isa din sa tinitingnan natin kasi ang area (fronting the facility) ay squatters area. Iyon palagi ang isa sa possibilities kung saan nanggaling ang mga kontrabando,” Buenacosa said.
BJMP’s request for more police personnel to conduct patrols and enhance visibility outside the facility was already granted.
“After sa nangyari (Go shooting) ay we asked assistance from the PNP for this para hindi na maulit,” said Buenacosa.
Senior Superintendent Roberto Alanas, Mandaue City Police Office director, assured that police personnel have been deployed in the area for round-the-clock patrolling.
“Yung patrolling gagawin natin iyan not only sa possible na tatakas but also iyung mga possible na magsneak in ng contraband,” said Alanas.
NEW APPROACH
More than 200 operatives from Police Regional Office-7, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7, Anti-Cybercrime Office, Special Weapons and Tactics, MCPO, and BJMP7 initiated the surprise inspection at around 5 a.m. yesterday.
The PRO-7 band played the whole time outside the jail, an approach PRO-7 Director Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas believed would calm down the inmates.
“Nag-ipon kasi sila, may tugtog para malipay sad sila. Di sila ma-agitate ba, bag-ong approach. Gipakaon sad sila og pan ug itlog bahala og gipukaw sila og sayo. Para katong mga inmates nga medyo agitated, medyo malingaw pud kadali,” said Sinas.
Sinas said BJMP- 7 requested for the greyhound operation following the death of Go.
Go was shot dead by fellow inmate Cresenciano Heyrana, 41, amid an argument while they were playing “hantak” inside the latter’s detention cell. Go reportedly drew a firearm that was eventually wrested by Heyrana, who then shot him.
ISOLATED CASE
Buenacosa assured though that Go’s shooting was an isolated case.
A special investigation task group (SITG) has been formed to look into the case. It is made up of personnel from MCPO, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7, BJMP-7, and the Crime Laboratory.
BJMP-7 will also do a parallel investigation focusing on the administrative aspect of the case, particularly on who should be held liable for the breach in security knowing that a gun was used to shoot Go.