WARDENS at the Cagayan de Oro City Jail intercepted some P30,000 cash from a woman in her 50’s which was concealed insider her undergarments, last Thursday, April 11.
Authorities said the woman, whom they refused to identify, was supposed to visit her son who was detained at the city jail for drug charges and deliver the money to pay off his son’s debts.
The woman was subjected to strip search procedure after jail guards noticed an unusual bulge on the lower body part.
“Based on her statement, that was intended to pay off the debts of his son. May utang daw sa mga kapwa preso (her son has a debt inside the cell),” the jail management said.
Because of the visitor’s violation, she was denied entry to the detention facility. Her money was also given back as the management does not have legal authority to permanently confiscate it in favor of the government.
According to the rules and regulations of the city jail, cash more than P3,000 is considered a contraband.
The intention of the regulation is to prevent inmates from dominating or controlling fellow inmates through money; prevent the use of money for illegal activities like gambling, or smoking, etc.; and prevent its illicit use as a means for visitors, personnel or anybody in contact with them to smuggle guns, illegal drugs, among others.
“Cagayan de Oro City jail male dormitory has been drug-cleared and smoke-free for two consecutive years already. We don’t want to go back to the old days that is why we are putting preventive measures and implementing the same for the purpose,” the jail management added.
“As we give chance to persons deprived of liberty to change for the better, we also give the same to their visitors. Her ban period will be decided by the Visitors Regulatory Board when it will convene by next week,” it added.
Jail warden Superintendent Erwin Kenny Ronquillo lauded the jail personnel for exhibiting alertness, even as he urged visitors to abide by the jail visitation policies, rules and regulations.