10 guards facing relief over drugs in canteen

CEBU, Philippines - Ten jail guards stand to be removed from work following the discovery of shabu inside the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center canteen last Tuesday.

“They will be relieved of their duties. These are all recommendations. If found that they are actually helping them (drug pushers) in any capacity,  then they will be dismissed (from service),” said CPDRC Officer-in-Charge Roberto Legaspi.

The jail guards are regular employees.

Officials met yesterday to come up with a list of individuals who might be involved.

“Currently, we’re monitoring those individuals (guards), not only inside but also outside (the jail). We’re looking at their activities,” Legaspi said.

He assured that no administrative personnel were involved, and denied talks that there is a drug laboratory inside the facility.

If the jail guards would be replaced, the provincial government would have to hire replacements or request for help from the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

Moreover, the CPDRC administration is suggesting the permanent closure of the canteen and the dissolution of the inmates’ cooperative.

“The coop we’ll have to address because we understand that it benefits the inmates,” Legaspi said, adding that what should be discussed now is that illegal drugs has been found in the canteen.

Legaspi also said that they were looking at conducting a surprise drug test on the inmates, especially jailed high-value targets.

“We’re still looking at the legality of that,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office Head Remedios Meca said they received requests from “almost all” Bureau of Jail Management and Penology units in the province for her office to conduct drug test on all inmates.

She said they also sought the legality of the request and would get the response from the Provincial Legal Office within this week.  (FREEMAN)