Pubdate: Wed, 22 Sep 2004
Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines)
Contact:  http://www.mb.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/906
Author: Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

CONNIVANCE BETWEEN GUARDS AND VISITORS EYED IN SHABU SMUGGLING AT CEBU CITY 
JAIL

CEBU CITY - An investigative team that looked into the discovery of 355 
decks of "shabu" inside the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC), the 
city jail, has smelled connivance between some jail guards and people 
visiting inmates in the facility.

Based on the initial finding of the jail oversight committee task force, 
which investigated the incident last Sept. 10 when authorities found the 
decks of shabu hidden in a mass of human waste stored in a drum at the 
toilet of the BBRC, there was connivance between some jail guards and the 
visitors who carried the contraband.

Gregorio Bacolod, head of the task force, however, said the team found it 
hard to get evidence because no one was willing to execute an affidavit.

He also said that the findings could not be concluded yet at present as he 
asked Vice Mayor Michael Rama to give his group another week to submit the 
final report.

The main problem bugging the task force, so far, is the difficulty of 
getting sworn statements from witnesses to substantiate the claim of 
connivance, Bacolod said.

As this developed, there are plans to solve the illegal activities at BBRC 
by changing the people manning it and reforming the system of operations.

Bacolod had earlier recommended a top-to-bottom revamp of BBRC officials, 
suggesting further that 70 percent of new officials, including blue guards, 
should come from Cebu City.

But the city government insisted on having direct participation in the 
screening of new jail officers and guards before transferring some 1,700 
inmates from BBRC to the new jail in barangay Kalunasan.

Last Sept. 10, at least 351 small packs of "shabu" and several bladed 
weapons were seized when city officials conducted "Operation Greyhound" in BBRC

The illegal drugs and paraphernalia were discovered inside a makeshift 
septic tank of BBRC's Brigada Dos.

The inmates allegedly threw the packs of shabu into the makeshift septic 
tank upon the sight of the approaching authorities.

The operation was conducted after the Police Coordinating and Advisory 
Council (PCAC) of the Cebu City Hall held a meeting and decided to proceed 
to the BBRC to check reports of rampant illegal drug trade in the jail.

The early-morning operation caught off guard several inmates, jail guards 
and BBRC warden Supt. Nestor Velasquez who denied knowledge of the illegal 
drug trade.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager