CPDRC holds cleanest prison cell competition

CEBU, Philippines - “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”

This was what the management of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center has stood by as it held yesterday a competition for the cleanest prison cell.

Marco Toral, Capitol’s consultant on jail matters, said this was the first time the jail facility conducted the activity which aimed to discipline the inmates and maintain cleanliness and orderliness inside their respective cells.

CPDRC has a total of 119 cells where the top three cleanest cells were chosen from.

A total of P10,000 cash was awarded to the first placer, P5, 000 to the second placer, and P3,000 to third placer.

The first place was bagged by female cell no. 55 which houses 13 inmates. The two other winning prison cells, cell nos. 25 and 29, each housing 16 inmates, belong to the males.

Toral said the cash were handed directly to the winners which will be used to improve their dorms.

“Ingon sila nga ila daw pa-nindoton pa ilang selda,” Toral said over the phone.

Toral said inmates whose cells made it to the top 10 were asked to go out first before the CPDRC inspection team checked their cells. Other areas inspected were comfort rooms.

Part of the prizes was sponsored by a visitor while the rest came from his own coffer, Toral said.

The management is eyeing to conduct the activity every first of the month.

Toral further said the purpose of the activity was also to prevent the sneaking of illegal drugs inside the facility.

Just last December, two women and a male visitor were arrested after trying to sneak nubain into the prison.

Ampules of nubain placed in a bucket of ice cubes were confiscated from the women while others were seized from the man, particularly hidden inside his underwear.

CPDRC is famous for its dancing inmates which videos became viral on Youtube and on other social media sites.  (FREEMAN)