Cebu City jail raid: Council asks PDEA-7 to submit probe results

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has approved the resolution requesting the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 to submit results in its investigation into the raid at the Cebu City Jail last August 13.

"Well katong resolution nako mahitungod sa kay nag-conduct naman sila investigation katong mahitungod sa nakompiska nila na nga mga items sa City Jail, nya naa naman to silay investigation nga gihimo. Ang ako lang mangayo lang ko og unsa na'y resulta niya sa ilang investigation nga pwede matagaan mi og kopya," said City Councilor Sisinio Andales, deputy mayor for peace and order.

"At least nga kung in aid of legislation, kung makahimo ba mi og balaodnon nga mapanday nato og pag-augment ug paghimog lig-ong lakang nga at least di na ma-prevent ning nahitabo diri sa City Jail," Andales added.

The raid yielded more than P4.6 million cash, P240,000 worth of shabu and other contrabands.

PDEA-7 director Yogi Felimon Ruiz, in his message sent through the agency's information officer Leia Albiar, vowed that their office will oblige with the City Council's request.

"We will cooperate with the City Council. PDEA-7 will give its full cooperation," Ruiz said.

Andales said that once PDEA-7 will furnish the council with copies of their investigation, he would personally look into it so that appropriate action will be taken.

"Well ang ato ana, I have to study kung naa tay ma-introduce nga legislation as far as Cebu City is concerned, kinahanglanon man gani. At least makibaw ta nganong nakalusot ni (contrabands), nganong naa ni diha, nganong wa ni kabantayi sa past years," he further said.

Operatives of the Police Regional Office-7, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7, Special Weapons and Tactics team, Regional Public Safety Battalion-7, and the Philippine Coast Guard's K-9 Unit conducted a joint search operation inside the Cebu City Jail past 1 a.m. until 6 a.m.

Ruiz earlier said lax in security was the reason why illegal drugs were easily smuggled into the facility.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña earlier said that he will cut off the allowance given to 158 Bureau of Jail Management and Penology personnel in the male dormitory of city jail.

Record shows that the city spends P7.58 million every year for the monthly allowance of the jail guards in the male dormitory. —/ATO (FREEMAN)