NARCO HUB: Authorities probe ‘central command’ of illegal drug transactions in jail

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) here and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-6 are investigating the report on the alleged existence of a central command on illegal drug transaction inside the Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) in Bago City, Negros Occidental.

A suspect arrested in a P6.8-million drug bust here last month earlier alleged that a central command exists in the jail and it is being run by a person deprived of liberty (PDL) or inmate who was communicating with him their drug transaction outside.

Senior Inspector Norberto Miciano Jr., NODJ warden, said a greyhound operation initiated by Police Colonel Romeo Baleros, Nocppo director, in coordination with the BJMP regional office was conducted Sunday morning to confirm the allegation.

Miciano had also conducted the same operation after learning of the report but it turned out negative. The PDL linked to the alleged drug transactions was already isolated and investigated.

In Sunday’s greyhound operation, authorities recovered a cellular phone from another PDL, aside from nuisance items seized in some jail dormitories.

Miciano said the cellular phone was turned over to the police for forensic examination.

“We want to check if there are contacts from the jail regarding the drug transaction made outside the facility. We cannot confirm anything yet since investigation is ongoing,” he said.

Miciano said the owner of the cellular phone will be subjected to disciplinary action and will also be isolated.

Last week, about 200 PDLs underwent a random drug test which turned out negative.

Based on latest reports from the Police Regional Office-6 in Iloilo City, Bacolod City and Negros Occidental accounted for more or less P64.4 million in drug seizures from June 27 to Sept. 27, 2019.