Warden wants cops, PDEA to probe CPDRC on drugs

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) acting jail warden Roberto “Bobby” Legaspi will ask the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) to conduct an investigation to determine if there is indeed an illegal drug trade inside the facility.

Legaspi said the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) of CPPO, as well as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7, are experienced in conducting investigation or surveillance activities pertaining to issues on illegal drug trade.

“We’re letting (the) PIB do the investigation.  We can do an internal investigation that is different from them. I mean, that’s their field but they have wider intelligence community than we do,” Legaspi said.

He added that the CPDRC management has been closely coordinating with the police and the PDEA.

The investigation, Legaspi adds, should come from an outsider, or from law enforcement agencies like PDEA or the police.

“Yes, that’s the reason why we brought them in so that there’s no bias. With the help of PIB and with the help of PDEA, we’re working closely with them,” he said.

Around 7 a.m. last Thursday, assorted receipts from known money remittance centers were seized inside the provincial jail facility, as well as 13 empty packs of suspected shabu, drug and gambling paraphernalia.

Bladed weapons, mobile phones, and a brand new laptop were also confiscated.

Even if there was no shabu or any illegal drug found inside the facility, Legaspi still cannot say that CPDRC is free from the illegal substance, considering that he just started managing the jail facility for about three months.

“I could definitely say it’s not 100 percent. There are some areas we haven’t done yet,” Legaspi said.

On the confiscation of receipts from money remittance centers, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale has instructed Legaspi to visit these establishments as part of their investigation.

She also urged the owners and managers of money remittance centers to cooperate with the authorities on this matter.

“Mao na atong gi-follow-up karon kung nganong dunay remittance nga P70,000, P40,000 lain-lain. I am asking Bobby to check the remittance centers – to pay a visit kay we will furnish them (a notice or copy) pareha sa akong gibuhat sa cyber pornography.  Amo silang gipasabot nga while they are a legitimate business for OFW remittance gyud, mao gyud na ilahang main na business. Di ta gusto maapektuhan sila, so please cooperate nato,” Magpale said. (FREEMAN)