Palawan Provincial Jail Warden Bong Rabago confirmed the reports on illegal drug trade inside their facility that involves four inmates.
Rabago said that the issue was under surveillance two weeks ago and only this Saturday when they had a positive result, January 25.
“Apat palang actually may mga series of investigation pa tayong ginagawa. Nai-forward narin natin sa Provincial Legal Office ang report,” Rabago said.
Aside from the inmates, they are also conducting investigations on their roster for the possible involvement of some jail guards and other employees.
“Ini-imbestigahan na naming kung dalaw o jail guard ba ang pinagmulan o sangkot dito. Lahat naman ng anggulo ay tinitingnan natin kaya medyo maselan ang pagbibigay natin ng detalye. Doon narin yan papunta kung sakaling may mataas na taong involve,” Rabago added.
It is recalled that authorities confiscated a packet of 0.086 grams of illegal drugs after the operation conducted last Saturday.
On a cellphone video leaked this morning on social media, a certain “Reyes” handed over P1,000 to a certain “Orpano” and “Basalo” who according to Rabago, all were facing drug-related cases and from Coron.
They are also investigating other inmates to identify who took the cellphone video.
“Bawal yun actually pati yung kumuha ng video, inaalam na namin dahil kinunan yun sa loob ng selda. Nag-iimbestiga parin ako kung papaano nakunan yun at nakapasok ang cellphone. Hindi legitimate ang imbestigasyon nun dahil kapwa preso nya ang kumuha.”
Meanwhile, Rabago will now implement stricter security measures including thorough body frisking and checking of undergarments to all the visitors and jail guards, deployment of additional jail guards, random drug testing on inmates and employees of Provincial Jail and others.
“Sinimulan agad namin ang mas mahigpit na seguridad dito. Lahat ng gamit na papasok ay talagang titingnan at ang mga sasakyan namin kasama ako ay sa labas nalang ng kulungan. I-inspeksyunin din namin lahat yan para malaman kung may sangkot ba talaga na taga loob,” he explained.
As of this time, the four detainees involved were transferred to the Annex Building and now under maximum security. All their privileges including visiting rights were lifted for a minimum of two months according to Rabago.