Cebu City jail search yields drugs, gun

Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency conduct an inventory of the seized contraband inside the Cebu City Jail. (NESTLE SEMILLA/INQUIRER VISAYAS)

CEBU CITY –– At least P1.08 million worth of illegal drugs, a gun, and other contraband were seized in a surprise operation at the Cebu City Jail (CCJ) on May 6.

Jail Superintendent Jose Abueva, warden of CCJ, said they received various reports that illegal items had been smuggled inside the facility.

“We decided to coordinate with the PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) for a joint operation and to get rid of the contraband inside the jail,” he said.

An investigation was conducted to find out how 32 grams of shabu (methamphetamine), a .45-caliber pistol, its magazine, and live ammunition, cellular phones, bladed weapons, and cigarettes ended up at the CCJ.

Abueva said the facility’s disciplinary board was verifying the names of the inmates who may be behind the illegal drug transactions in the jail.

Many suspects arrested in operations have often traced their supply of illegal drugs to persons inside the CCJ.

PDEA Central Visayas Director Levi Ortiz said most of the illegal items seized during the surprise raid belonged to two inmates, whose names he refused to divulge, while an investigation was being conducted.

He said the agency would file charges against the two persons deprived of liberty (PDL) to discourage other inmates from keeping contraband.

“The PDEA will continue to coordinate with the BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) to look into the methods employed in sneaking these contraband into the jail,” Ortiz said.

CCJ, which is in the mountain village of Kalunasan, Cebu City, houses about 6,000 PDLs.

Abueva believed that the prohibited items are thrown into the facility from outside.

Another possibility, he said, was that contraband items are hidden inside the food delivered to the PDLs.

Abueva said he had introduced measures to address the issues, such as installing nets over the fences and thorough inspection by jail personnel of items handed over by the families of the inmates.

“What we have to do is to be more watchful and to avoid complacency,” he said.

LZB