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Saturday, September 18, 2004
3 inmates ‘scared’ to squeal
By Mia E. Abellana
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
AT LEAST three inmates are reportedly responsible for bringing in the 350 packets and one-gram pack of shabu seized last week at the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC).
In a press conference yesterday, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes said charges cannot be filed yet against the three inmates who have been identified.
“There is a reluctance to reveal all that they know because of fear of retaliation,” Reyes said, referring to the witnesses.
The inmates reportedly have drug-related cases.
BBRC investigator JO1 Dennis Aliño said some inmates from Brigada 2 refused to have their statements subscribed because of an existing agreement among inmates at the BBRC.
Mortal sin
The agreement reportedly prohibits them from telling on their fellow inmates.
Violating this law is “mortal sin” and will mean stiff and painful penalties for the violator.
Aliño said the drugs are delivered to jail during visiting hours by two women who hail from Barangay Calamba. As to how the drugs make it inside, Aliño has yet to establish this.
For his part, Reyes assured that they are aware of the situation and that a thorough investigation is being conducted. They are not discounting the possibility that jail guards were involved.
He had also instructed that “stringent security measures” be implemented in the jail.
Echoing jail officials’ earlier sentiments, Reyes lamented that the BBRC had a serious congestion problem, with the number of inmates 10 times more than the jail’s capacity.
“They even take turns sleeping because they cannot lie down at the same time,” Reyes said.
Solution
Only 50 percent of the ideal number of personnel is watching over the inmates.
Reyes said the long-term solution to the problem is to move the inmates to the new facility in Barangay Kalunasan.
The City Government and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 7 are hoping that P30 million intended for the drug rehabilitation will be realigned for the completion of the new jail.
The present jail in Kalunasan still has no perimeter fence.
However, Reyes said this still needs coordination from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Dangerous Drugs Board and the Department of Budget and Management.
(September 18, 2004 issue)
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