Councilor to refile ordinance banning phones in jail

CEBU, Philippines - To prevent the entry of contraband at the Operation Second Chance Center (OSCC) in Barangay Kalunasan, a city councilor intends to re-file the ordinance prohibiting the sneaking, using and carrying of mobile phones, remote-controlled drones or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and other electronic communication device in the facility.

This came after Cebu City Jail Warden Superintendent Arnel Peralta thinks that the city council should come up with a legislative measure to address the problem in the city jail and the OSCC.

“Atoa lang sila iapil sa ordinance kay ang mga bata not allowed to use mobile phones pati cigarettes kay diha magsugod ang pagsulod sa illegal,” said Councilor David Tumulak, who heads the city council’s committee on public order and safety.

Previously, the ordinance was drafted to prevent the illegal engagement of inmates inside the jail.

However, this was rejected by the city council’s committee on laws, saying that it was beyond the city council’s jurisdiction to come up with such legislation towards the problems in the jail.

“The committee lauds the gallant intention of the subject proposed ordinance. However, it is with regret that this Committee finds that the subject matter of the proposed ordinance is beyond the jurisdiction of this Sanggunian,” the committee report reads.

Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, chairman of the committee on laws, cited that Republic Act 6975 stipulates that it is the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) that has the control and supervisory jurisdiction over all city and municipal jails.

Reports reaching jail and city officials showed that minors in conflict with law, who are staying at OSCC, reportedly throw the contraband inside the Cebu City Jail.

The OSCC is beside the Cebu City Jail.

Tumulak divulged that Peralta was shocked upon learning that minors and inmates connive on the entry of the illegal items.

With this, Peralta vowed to strengthen the monitoring on the jail as well as in the OSCC.

“Atoang pasakaan ang paril para walay hand signal nga mahitabo, pasigaan nato ang whole vicinity kay dili ta gusto nga mahimong instrumento sa criminal nga gimbuhaton ang mga bata,” he added.

Last Thursday, personnel of OSCC seized 156 packs of cigarettes which is equivalent to 15 reams, lighters, one pack of shabu and plastic bags.

The contraband items are reportedly thrown by outsiders to the minors, who will then forward them to the male inmates at the city jail.

Last April 1, the city government started to manage the OSCC. Previously, it was the BJMP that supervised the center.

The OSCC has 40 personnel from the city government under the Department of Social Welfare and Services.

At present, there are at least 183 minors in conflict with the law. Of that number, only 94 came from the city. (FREEMAN)