Greyhound search nets 10 cellphones, five knives

By Glazyl M. Jopson

The Metro Bacolod District Jail (MBDJ) male dormitory in Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City, confiscated 10 cellphones and five improvised bladed weapons during a greyhound operation on Tuesday.

Jail Chief Insp. Juniven Rey Umadhay, spokesperson for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Negros Island Region (BJMP-NIR), said the contraband was recovered from the personal belongings of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

Umadhay said the items included five knives, seven smartphones, three keypad phones, money, chargers and other nuisance items.

As security is tightened in jail facilities across the region, including during visitation, Umadhay said the attempt shows desperation among PDLs, who may lose eligibility for Good Conduct Time Allowance for committing such an offense.

Umadhay said authorities are investigating how the contraband entered the facility despite tight security.

He said part of the inquiry is determining whether there was conspiracy between PDLs and jail personnel.

Umadhay said the seized cellphones were turned over to forensic personnel for examination for significant messages and will later be destroyed.

Greyhound operations are unannounced inspections conducted in jails to remove contraband and help ensure the safety of PDLs, the BJMP said.

Umadhay said drug testing was also conducted on 155 PDLs, and all tested negative.

In November, contraband, including illegal drugs, cellphones and improvised bladed weapons, was also seized in two operations at the Negros Occidental District Jail in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City, Negros Occidental.

Umadhay said the BJMP will continue to tighten security to prevent similar incidents.