PNP chief orders regular inspection of jail cells vs contraband smuggling

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Eleazar. Senate PRIB file photo / Joseph Vidal

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Friday ordered regular inspections to be conducted at police stations’ detention cells to further stem the smuggling of contrabands.

The PNP chief said that restrictions on visits to the facilities should be expected as there would be adjustments in security measures.

“Sa police station detention level pa lang ay dapat tiyakin natin na napuputol na ang paggawa ng krimen ng mga naka-detain. Nasa kustodiya na sila ng pulis kaya’t hindi na dapat sila nakagagawa pa ng mga bagay na iligal,” Eleazar said in a statement.

(From the police station detention level, we should ensure that we stop detainees from committing further crimes. They are under the custody of the police so they should not be able to do illegal actions anymore.)

The Manila Police District recently conducted surprise inspections in some of their stations’ detention facilities, in which they recovered contrabands including cash, improvised weapons, cigarettes, and playing cards.

The surprise inspection of detention cells where inmates were asked to gather in a certain area is dubbed “Oplan Greyhound,” which Eleazar said he fully supports.

“We fully support this conduct of Oplan Greyhound by the Manila Police District. Dapat talaga ay nagkakaroon ng regular na inspeksyon sa ating mga kulungan sa mga istasyon para matiyak na walang nakakapasok na kontrabando,” Eleazar said.

(We fully support this conduct of Oplan Greyhound by the Manila Police District. We really should have regular inspections in our detention cells in stations to ensure that no contrabands can enter.)

The PNP chief said that the inspections will determine where stricter security is needed as well as identify officers who are accomplices that allow entry of the prohibited items.

“Sa pagsasagawa ng mga inspeksyon, malalaman natin kung saan dapat maghigpit para wala nang maipuslit na mga kontrabando,” Eleazar said.

(In conducting inspections, we will know where to tighten our security so that contrabands cannot enter.)

“Aalamin din natin kung may mga naging kapabayaan o ‘di kaya ay kasabwat ang mga nakadetine na mga pulis kaya nakapapasok ang mga kontrabando,” he added.

(We will also discover if there is negligence or if detainees have police accomplices who allows the entry of contrabands.) Faith Yuen Wei Ragasa, INQUIRER trainee

RELATED STORIES:

Eleazar assures no corruption in PNP amid alleged Pacquiao ‘list’ of corrupt agencies 

Eleazar warns cops: Clean up or face sanctions  

PNP inspectors find local station ‘gone to the dogs’  

JPV