Contrabands seized in post-protest Negros jail raid

By Glazyl M. Jopson

A greyhound operation at the Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City led to the confiscation of several contraband items, some of which could be used as deadly weapons.

The raid, conducted at 4:30 a.m. on Monday, targeted the NODJ male dormitory following intelligence reports that Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) were in possession of unauthorized items, including smartphones.

Jail Senior Inspector Juniven Rey Umadhay, spokesperson for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology–Negros Island Region (BJMP-NIR), said authorities seized improvised bladed weapons, pointed steel bars, heater equipment, and makeshift bats during the search.

“These are very dangerous weapons that could endanger both PDLs and personnel,” Umadhay said in a phone interview on Tuesday.

The confiscated items were presented to BJMP-NIR Regional Director Jail Chief Superintendent Brendan Fulgencio at the regional office in Bacolod City.

The raid took place just four days after PDLs staged a noise barrage protest on Aug. 28, calling for the removal of then-warden Jail Chief Inspector Crisyrel Awe over alleged mistreatment.

Authorities also aimed to locate smartphones after a video of the protest circulated online, prompting BJMP-NIR to launch an investigation into the smuggling of mobile devices into the jail.

Umadhay acknowledged the possibility that a few detainees still had access to smartphones despite heightened security.

He emphasized that the operation was vital for maintaining order and safety inside the jail, noting that contraband may have entered through internal leaks or been thrown over the perimeter wall.

Investigations are ongoing to determine how the items were smuggled in.

“We will look into all aspects to determine how these contrabands sneaked into the facility,” Umadhay said.

Awe has since stepped down, and Jail Senior Inspector Raymond Aro now serves as NODJ officer-in-charge.

Umadhay said the NODJ is a high-risk facility that houses major drug offenders and individuals linked to communist insurgencies.

The seven-hour greyhound operation ended peacefully at 11 a.m., with full cooperation from the PDLs, according to Umadhay.

Fulgencio assured the detainees that the bureau remains open to hearing their grievances as long as they follow proper legal channels.

Security measures have since been tightened at the facility following a recent attempt on a jail officer’s life and the recovery of a firearm thrown over the perimeter wall last month.

The BJMP-NIR reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining safety and security across jail facilities, stressing that greyhound operations are critical to preventing violence, ensuring discipline, and upholding humane conditions for PDLs.

Meanwhile, greyhound operations at the Metro Bacolod District Jail (MBDJ) male dormitory and the San Carlos City Jail yielded no contraband.

All 62 BJMP personnel and 160 PDLs at the MBDJ also tested negative in a random drug test.

A similar test conducted at the San Carlos City Jail also produced negative results.

These measures were conducted to ensure that all jail facilities remain drug-free.