TACLOBAN CITY- Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno issued a stern warning to all jail officials and personnel to clean their facilities from the illegal drugs or face sanctions.
Sueno made this warning during his visit to Tacloban last December 14 wherein he said that illegal drugs continue to the discovered in jail facilities, citing in particular those in Metro Manila.
“I received reports that some BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) personnel are involved in the illegal drug trade,” Sueno said.
He said that he will personally check on this matter and find out how many BJMP are involved in the illegal drug either as users or as protectors.
In the region, BJMP regional director, Senior Supt. Efren Nemenio, said that he could assure the Interior Secretary that the jails in the region are free from illegal drug and his personnel are not into engaged in the illicit business.
He, however, said that there are few personnel who are under their monitoring to “validate” reports that they are into illegal drug.
“We have also list of BJMP personnel who are into illegal drugs and (similar list) based from the PNP (Philippine National Police) and PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) also,” Nemenio said.
There are 46 jail facilities in the region that are under the supervision of the BJMP which has 401 personnel.
Recently, a BJMP member assigned in Tacloban City, was arrested in a buy-bust operation last December 13.
Arrested was Ronelda Calamayan,52, together with one Teddy Magpili,44, both residents of Barangay 83-C, Taguiktik, San Jose district, this city.
At least 28 sachets of methamphetamine (shabu) were confiscated from the suspects who are now detained at the Tacloban City lock-up facility. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
