Drugs, cell phones found in QC Jail

Nancy C. Carvajal, Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—A surprise inspection of inmates’ cells at the Quezon City Jail Sunday morning yielded more than 200 sachets of drugs, drug paraphernalia, cell phones and deadly weapons.

The operation, which was ordered by Senior Supt. Emilio Culang, city jail warden, led to the seizure of at least 250 grams of dried marijuana leaves, 206 sachets which contained marijuana and shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), several bottles of solvent and paint thinner and drug paraphernalia.

Also confiscated were 70 cell phones, lewd magazines, playing cards, a bottle of wine and dozens of improvised deadly weapons.

These included spoons, forks, toothbrushes and pencils with sharpened points. There were also needles, lighters, belts, electrical wires, scissors, hammer, assorted ropes and nail cutters. Culang said he has ordered an investigation to determine how the contraband ended up inside the facility.

“There is money in this. I believe some jail personnel are involved in the operation,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net). According to him, a cell phone which is valued at only P500 outside the prison can fetch a sum of as much as P2,000 inside the facility.

“The price goes up in the jail,” Culang said.

The jail warden added that he plans to conduct an inspection of the city jail every month to discourage the entry of contraband. “Even if we could not totally eradicate the bringing in of contraband, we would at least reduce it,” Culang said. The move would also ensure the safety of prisoners, he added.

“The jail is overcrowded and the inmates do not stay and sleep inside their cells but in the yard of the prison compound which also serves as a basketball court,” Culang said. He explained that the jail has 2,800 inmates although it was built to accommodate only 1,000 detainees.

Sunday’s surprise inspection started at 7 a.m. and ended at around 12:30 p.m. It was carried out by dozens of jail guards, including trainees from the Jail National Training Institute, who were called in to augment the city jail personnel. Culang said the inmates were asked to step out of their cells and to stay in the yard of the compound during the duration of the operation. The prisoners were also asked to strip off their T-shirts to ensure that they were not hiding any contraband.

Culang said the inmates were cooperative and showed no resistance during the operation.
“They knew we would apply force to anyone who would try to cause trouble,” he said.