Jail cook nabbed with drugs

CEBU, Philippines - A cook at the Cebu City Jail was arrested Saturday evening for trying to sneak in illegal drugs into the jail facility.

Roque Lauron, 33, from Danao City, was caught by the jail guards during the inspection upon entering the City Jail past 9 p.m.  Superintendent Jessie Calumpang, jail warden, told reporters that Lauron appeared so uneasy and was shaking when he was asked to remove his cap upon entering as part of the security inspection which is also strictly imposed even to jail personnel.

The jail guards recovered pieces of crushed bread from Lauron’s cap along with six medium sachets of crystalline substance believed to be shabu weighing 30 grams. Lauron has been working with the jail as cook for two years.

Calumpang believes that Lauron was paid for the successful deliveries of illegal drugs into the facility.

“Most probably, gibayaran ni siya pag-pick up. Ang duwa diha naa silay sabuton sa gawas. Pagtan-aw nila istrikto ang gate, ibilin sa nila sa ilang bilinanan diha sa gawas,” he said.

The jail guards have noticed that Lauron was going in and out of the facility during that time.

In a separate interview, Lauron denied the allegation against him. He said he noticed a plastic package along the road while heading to the facility.

Out of curiosity, he added, he picked up the package and found pieces of bread and stapled small paper bags inside.

“Nakuryoso ra gyod ko unsa kaha ni. Pero akong gidala sa prisohan,” he said.

He said he also did not bother opening the paper bags before bringing them inside the facility.

He, however, admitted that he was once a drug user.

The jail management turned over Lauron to Guadalupe Police Station where he will be detained pending the filing of criminal complaint against him for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

A female visitor of Cebu City Jail was also arrested for the same activity last week.

The suspect, Mary Ann Labita, 45, of Barangay Basak Pardo in Cebu City, allegedly stuffed 19 ampules to pieces of bread.

Calumpang said he will install four units of closed-circuit television cameras at the entrance area next week to beef up their security measures.  —/FPL (FREEMAN)