AT LEAST 250 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) of the Metro Bacolod District Jail-Male Dormitory in Barangay Handumanan, Bacolod City were tested negative for illegal drug use.

The PDLs submitted their urine samples for the drug test after the greyhound operation inside the facility around 5:45 a.m. on Friday, February 22.

The greyhound operation conducted by Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) led by jail warden Senior Inspector Norberto Miciano was in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency- Western Visayas.

Miciano said most of the PDLs are facing drug cases and considered as high profile suspects.

Jail personnel seized nuisance items such as woods, nails, steel, wires, and pairs of scissors. No illegal contrabands like liquors and illegal drugs were recovered.

Also, 33 BJMP personnel underwent the drug test.

At present, Metro Bacolod Bacolod District Jail-Male Dormitory has a total of 849 PDLs.

Miciano said the PDLs who are detained for more than six months were subjected to the drug test.

“We are doing this every month to ensure that they are free from illegal drugs and to make sure that no contraband can enter the jail facility,” he said.