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Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Gwen picks lawyer over Byron to help PDEA stamp out drugs
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday asked the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to coordinate with Capitol lawyer Rory Jon Sepulveda, and turned down the agency’s request that they coordinate with her brother Byron on their drug campaign.
The governor said Sepulveda has the experience and technical training on such matters.
Also, Sepulveda has already been coordinating with the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor and judges in the speedy disposition of cases, including drug-related ones.
“PDEA can henceforth coordinate with (Sepulveda), as I strongly urge them to,” the governor said.
Also yesterday, the governor said she found “serious transgressions” in the security for inmates at the provincial jail, saying she will “take proper action at the proper time.”
Public view
She pointed out that Simon Lao was placed in a cell that was near the visiting area and in public view, despite being considered a high-risk prisoner.
Also, Garcia said the incident involving gunshots that supposedly came from a sniper still requires serious study. She considers questionable the theory that the shots were fired by guards chasing a mad dog in the nearby city jail.
Earlier, Capitol consultant on security Byron Garcia maintained that the shooting incident was a failed murder attempt on Lao, a major witness in the Mandaue shabu laboratory case.
But Chief Insp. Juanito Enguerra, whom Cebu Provincial Police Office Acting Director Vicente Loot sent to investigate, said Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center guards chasing a mad dog were the ones who fired the shots.
Byron reportedly asked Acting Warden Alfredo Abella to file a complaint against Enguerra, asking for the police official’s suspension for tampering with evidence.
But Governor Garcia yesterday told Abella that she is still the jailer and should be the one giving orders.
Let me do it
“While I admire the zealousness of consultants, they can’t order regular Capitol employees... allow me to do my job as I see fit and others will do their jobs in their own defined spheres,” she said.
The governor said there’s a need to review the existing structure at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center.
A handbook on the jail’s management and operations was already completed, but this needs the approval of the Cebu Provincial Board. The handbook is still being reviewed by the PB committee on peace and order headed by Jose Ma. Gastardo. (JPM)
(December 28, 2005 issue)
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