Party drugs smuggled into Cebu provincial jail

CEBU CITY – Tablets believed to be party drugs were among the items seized during a surprise search at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) here.

Policemen and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) searched the facility’s 121 cells from 4 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Friday.

“We recovered unknown drugs in form of tablets which are suspected to be party drugs. We will wait for the results of the laboratory examinations to determine if these so-called party drugs are ecstasy, valium or morphine,” said PDEA Regional Director Wardley Getalla.

If the confiscated tablets are indeed party drugs, the next step is to find out who supplied, Getalla said.

The search also turned up 28 packs of suspected shabu, 194 marijuana sticks drug-sniffing paraphernalia and P89,290 in cash.

Close to 200 cell phones were also confiscated. “Confiscating these cell phones is important since these are being used when there are illegal drug transactions,” said Getalla.

The smuggling of party drugs into the jail highlighted the need to tighten the security in the facility. “It seems that parties are being held there. We should not allow the smuggling of contraband into the facility,” Getalla said.

More surprise inspections will be conducted with the creation of an Interagency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs (ICAD).

“It will not only about barangay drug clearing operations but it will also focus on jail drug clearing operations,” Getalla said.