CPDRC still yields drugs, contrabands

Despite the past greyhound activities at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), authorities still confiscated contrabands and illegal drugs during the operation yesterday.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 and Cebu Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) seized about 26 small packs of white substance believed to be shabu, 101 disposable lighters, improvised scoop, lamps, sealers, several aluminum tin foils, syringes, improvised weapons, monitor and cellphones and other items.

The illegal drugs were found in the cells of alleged high-profile inmates involved in drug case which included the cell of alleged drug lord Alvaro "Barok" Alvaro, where less than 10 small packs of suspected shabu were confiscated.

Roberto "Bobby" Legaspi, acting jail warden of CPDRC, said the greyhound is a reminder to the inmates that authorities did not forget the illegal activities inside the jail facility.

"I think what we confiscated today tells us that there are still contrabands inside." Legaspi said.

The greyhound is the first operation conducted inside CPDRC this year under the watch of Legaspi, who has been appointed as the jail's acting warden starting February 1, after the resignation of the facility's assistant jail warden Audesti Miguel.

Aside from the cells of the inmates, authorities also checked the conjugal rooms and the administration office of CPDRC but none was recovered.

Legaspi said this is to eliminate the doubt that employees are involved in illegal activities inside the jail facility.

"And to let them (employees) know also just because we're doing the greyhound it is only the inmates pero also the staff inside," Legaspi said.

Aside from drugs and contrabands, authorities also recovered P1,585 with different denominations from the cells.

The vault containing P257,200 worth of cash from the facility's canteen was opened yesterday.

The vault is said to be owned by inmate's "pangkat."

Legaspi said he will inform the governor regarding the said amount of cash owned by the inmates group and discuss what to do about it.

"The vault should not be inside the prison where the inmates can access it every time and spend whenever they want and influence other personnel," Legaspi said, adding that if the money is really from inmates group or organization it should be deposited in a legitimate cooperative so that inmates can benefit from it.

Superintendent Mario Baquiran Jr., head of PPSC, said there's a "significant decrease" in the confiscated items from the inmates of CPDRC compared to their previous greyhounds.

They have conducted at least six greyhounds operations last year.

With the result of the operation, Baquiran said they will continue to implement strict security inside the jail facility in line with CPDRC's program and guidelines for security.

Meanwhile, an alleged high-level drug pusher was arrested in a buy-bust operation Thursday afternoon around in Barangay San Roque, Talisay City.

Arrested was Feliciano Bucao, 50, a resident of the place.

Talisay Police Station Chief Marlu Conag said that Bucao was considered highvalue target for having endless supply of illegal drugs based on the reports of operatives.

During the successful buy-bust transaction, a pack of suspected shabu worth P1,770 and P500 marked money were recovered from his possession.

Bucao, when sought for comment, declined an interview.