Cebu jail inmates get back visit privileges

CEBU CITY — The visitation privileges of inmates at the Cebu Provincial Detection and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) were restored Monday, six days after a prison raid yielded illegal drugs and other contraband.

The visitation privileges were restored after the Cebu Provincial Police Office approved the request of the Cebu provincial government to send two teams from the Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) to provide additional security at the jail.

It was the second time the provincial government had asked for police assistance in securing the facility.

Jail officer-in-charge Roberto Legaspi said stricter security measures will be implemented following the discovery of illegal drugs, mobile phones, and laptops last week.

He said visitors and their bags will be thoroughly inspected, even the jail workers themselves like guards and administrative officers. He added that visitors should be escorted by jail personnel.

Inmates are allowed to be with visitors for 30 minutes at the visitation area which is equipped with 13 cubicles Mondays to Fridays.

Governor Hilario Davide III had requested the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to conduct a sweep of the jail after he received information that illegal drugs were still being smuggled inside.

Following the operation, Davide relieved jail warden Dr. Gil Macatu and ordered the suspension of visitation rights.

The raid, however, stirred controversy after photos of inmates stripped naked circulated online. The Commission on Human Rights launched an investigation while Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma called the stripping of inmates improper.