Cellphones but no drugs

Elements of the Provincial Public Safety Company yesterday found three cellular phones but no drugs after they searched three cells at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) yesterday, a day after they searched an isolation cell a

One of the cells included the room of highprofile drug personality Alvaro “Barok” Alvaro, but police clarified the cellphones were seized from the other inmates.

The search was conducted after CPDRC officials got a tip that an inmate in one of the three cells had illegal drugs.

Roberto “Bobby” Legaspi, officer-in-charge of CPDRC, said before the search was conducted yesterday inmates also turned over 22 cellphones and 14 small sachets of suspected shabu.

This was after inmates lost visitation privileges following the finding of seven small sachets of suspected shabu from three inmates on Wednesday.

“I gave them the whole night until this morning to turn in contrabands, if they give me good amount we will return the privileges,” Legaspi said, adding inmates were promised no questions would be asked about the contraband and no additional charges would be filed either.

Meanwhile, the construction of additional 19 detention cells in the jail will start this week, according to provincial engineer Hector Jamora.

This is to address the congestion problem in provincial jail which currently has 2,732 inmates.

Jamora said they already had a pre-construction meeting with the contractor R. M. Mondares Construction on Wednesday.

The 19 cells that will be constructed within the quadrangle of CPDRC have a budget of P4.5 million.

The cell sizes will vary between 3.35 meters by 6.50 meters with a capacity of 16 persons, and 2.60 meters by 6.50 meters which can house 12 persons.

The target completion of the cells is within 130 days; this also includes the renovation of the infirmary inside the jail.

With the upcoming construction of the said cells, construction workers will also undergo frisking and inspection upon entering the jail to make sure they will not sneak in contraband.

Legaspi said workers are not allowed to bring their cellular phones inside the jail and will only work from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. If work has to extend for an hour or so, they need to ask permission from the management.

“No wrapping of t-shirt (on faces) because we need to see their face, no close contact sa mga inmates, we're giving them of distance nga pila ka meters, no talking with inmates, real strict, if we see them talking for any reason they are going to be dismissed, they won't be allowed inside the facility anymore,” Legaspi said, adding that there will be jail personnel who will watch over the workers.

He said they will also make sure the construction workers do not have relatives inside the jail.

“We'd rather have them inform us ahead of time, but if we find out that they have relative inside the cell we will replace them and the contractor will find a replacement,” Legaspi said.