Warden denies Talisay jail is source of drugs

CEBU, Philippines — Talisay City Jail Warden Superintendent Gil Inopia has denied that the jail is a source of illegal drugs following the allegations of a drug peddler arrested in Cebu City last Monday.

"Dili na tinuod nga Talisay (jail) ang supply, sige ta’g greyhound ug wala’y nakuha," Inopia said, adding that the jail management has been conducting daily greyhound operations on each cell.

Ricardo Cabanes, 50, was arrested last Monday in possession of over P500,000 worth of illegal drugs. He confessed after he was arrested that he got his supply of illegal drugs from Talisay City Jail from one of their inmates identified as "Brad."

Although Inopia denies this allegation, calling it a speculation, they still intend to subject the matter to investigation.

He disclosed that Cabanes went to the facility four times last June on the 4th, 6th, 13th and 16th, to visit high-profile inmate Steve Go.

But after Go was transferred to Mandaue City Jail on July 6, Cabanes also stopped visiting the facility.

He added that Cabanes did attempt to visit an unnamed inmate last week. Cabanes was not able to enter the city jail because Inopia has implemented strict security rules particularly on visitors after he assumed office in June.

He said he changed the jail’s visitation policy by allowing only immediate family members to visit inmates.

Inopia said there are six inmates in Talisay City Jail with the surname Cabanes, but none of them admits that they are related to Ricardo Cabanes.

He added that he had also received reports that Cabanes is good at faking IDs as well as licenses.

Inopia also said that Cabanes' confession could be a "diversionary tactic" to protect a more high profile source.

Jail management is currently coordinating with Talisay police in each of their greyhound operations to confirm if there are bulks of illegal drugs that have made their way into Talisay City Jail.

Meanwhile, two former drug surrenderers were arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by Talisay police early morning yesterday in Sitio Kanipaan, Barangay Pooc, Talisay City.

Rosval Restauro, 30, a resident of Sitio Kanipaan and the subject of the operation, was arrested along with Edcel Sedantes, 18, also a resident of the place.

Both Restauro and Sedantes were caught in possession of suspected illegal drugs.

Barangay officials had been monitoring the two after it was reported that they continued their illegal drug trade following their surrender.

Recovered from their possession were one medium pack and two small packs of suspected shabu weighing four grams with an estimated value of P20,000.

Restauro and Sedantes are now detained at the station pending the filing of charges against them. (FREEMAN)