Due to shabu in jail; Tacloban jail warden ousted from his post

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines—  Superintendent Benedicto Catodio, warden of the Tacloban City District Jail, yesterday was relieved from his post, after a Greyhound operation conducted by personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-8, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-8.

Senior Supt. Efren Nemeño, BJMP-8 regional director, told The Philippine Star/The Freeman that he issued the relief order against Catodio after at least 11 sachets of shabu and other contraband items like cell phones were found and seized from the cell of an inmate facing drug cases.

This incident prompted the PDEA and the BJMP to conduct the Greyhound, a surprise inspection of cells, following reports that a certain Ronnie Peñaranda has been allegedly responsible in drug pushing inside the jail with the drugs hidden in one of the jail’s ceiling.

"As I warned them, a daily but surprise Greyhound operation will be conducted until such time that no reports of illegal drug proliferation and other contraband items are found inside the Tacloban City Jail,” Nemeño added.

Catodio was replaced by Supt. Peter Bungat, the then BJMP-8 Operations chief, but Catodio was given a higher post at the BJMP-8 regional office as its chief directorial staff, replacing Supt. Manuel Chan who was moved to the post vacated by Bungat.

"Since we are lacking senior officers, I decided Catodio to take charge of the CDS post considering that he (Cotodio) is more senior than Chan," Nemeño said.

Two days before the relief order of Catodio, three jail personnel were also ousted from their posts:

1)Jail Officer 2 Dalmacio Canayong, the City Jail mess officer, who was reported to have been in cahoots with Peñaranda's drug operation. He denied this however he was re-assigned to the Burauen (Leyte) Jail;

2)Jail Officer 2 Celso Casota who was also re-assigned to the Borongan City Jail in Eastern Samar; and

3)Jail Officer 3 Ester Palaña, TCJ’s records officer who was re-assigned to the Ormoc City Jail but for undisclosed reason.

A source said the TCJ has become a drug den, as many people from outside would come in as visitors only to have shabu sessions. The informant said the jail guards, linked to some drug personalities outside, receive a weekly supply of drugs with the intervention of some personnel within the jail facility.

Nemeño however admitted that, until now, his office could not pinpoint yet on who could be responsible of the continuous entry of drugs into the jail.

Recently, all personnel coming in and out of the jail perimeter have been ordered to undergo inspection, and to ban them from bringing their cellphones inside.

At least 10 BJMP personnel are now being investigated for matters mostly on suspected drug activities. "These are actually for validation, we will determine the veracity of the reports," Nemeño added.

Meanwhile, the TCJ’s population has reached 833, far way off its 180 capacity. Seventy-five percent of the inmates are facing drug cases. (FREEMAN)