PNP looking into drug trade in other prisons in provinces

FOLLOWING the arrest of a convicted drug lord for selling shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) outside a penal colony in Occidental Mindoro, the Philippine National Police is verifying information that the illegal drug trade is also rampant in other penal facilities in Mindanao.

The Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force is checking reports that there are also drug deals being brokered from inside the penal colonies in Zamboanga and Davao.

“We received raw information of an illegal drug trade in these penal colonies, although we are still verifying this. It is not just the New Bilibid Prisons,” said the AIDSOTF spokesperson, Chief Insp. Roque Merdegia.

Last week, convicted drug lord Ruben Tiu was arrested for selling shabu to two female undercover agents two kilometers away from the Sablayan penal colony in Occidental Mindoro, where he has been serving a life sentence.

The drug lord was apparently able to go out of the penal colony, accompanied by a prison guard, to consummate the transaction.

Merdegia said Tiu was arrested by the AIDSOTF in 1999 during a buy-bust operation in Makati City, with the Supreme Court affirming his conviction in 2004.

He added that as early as 2010, the PNP has received reports of the illegal drug trade flourishing inside the Sablayan penal colony, but local policemen have been having difficulty penetrating it.

“Tiu’s most recent arrest has brought down the morale of our operatives who worked hard to arrest him years ago, since he is still able to do his dirty work even though he is already in prison,” the police official said.

Merdegia added that Tiu’s arrest confirmed reports that convicted drug lords in penal colonies in the provinces have been brokering drug deals behind bars.

In 2014, the National Bureau of Investigation, in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies, raided the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City and discovered the lavish lifestyle being enjoyed by some high profile inmates there.

This led to the transfer of some high profile inmates, including some convicted drug lords, from the NBP to the NBI.

Merdegia stressed the importance of cutting off the inmates’ use of communication to the outside world in order to prevent them from arranging drug deals while in prison.

“The communication in penal colonies should be tightened.  If possible there should be no cellphone signals being enjoyed by inmates,” he said.

Inmates are apparently able to contact suppliers or drug runners from inside prison and continue their illegal business, using cellphones.

Prison authorities should also strictly evaluate, monitor and reshuffle prison guards to avoid fraternization between inmates and prison guards, as seen in Tiu’s case.

Merdegia said authorities should first ascertain a prison guard’s mental aptitude and moral fiber before assigning him to guard such inmates involved in the illegal drug trade.

He pointed out that drug convicts have been paying prison guards to turn a blind eye to their activities.

“Prison authorities should also keep an eye on prison guards. Because drug convicts can easily pay ordinary guards who are supposed to guard them,” Merdegia said.

Merdegia explained that the convict would even become bolder with his illegal drug trade because he already had nothing to lose.

“It is turning out to be a vicious cycle. It really lowers the morale of operatives who work hard to arrest them,” he said. SFM/AC