‘NARCO MIDDLEMEN’: BJMP-6, cops to probe ‘contact’ of illegal drug peddlers inside jail

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-6 will coordinate with the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) in probing the allegations of two arrested drug suspects about their two contacts inside the Metro Bacolod District Jail (MBDJ)-Male Dormitory at Barangay Singcang-Airport here.

This, after Mark Daniel Angas, 39, of Barangay 14 here, told the police when he was arrested last Thursday at Barangay Singcang-Airport, that someone inside the jail gives him instructions when, where, and who will deliver the illegal drugs to him, according to Police Major Joery Puerto, head of Police Station 8.

Puerto said that Angas and his contact reportedly talk via video call, which is prohibited since cellular phones are not allowed inside jails.

The PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG)-6 and Police Station 8 seized from Angas around 205 grams of suspected shabu worth P1,394,000.

Puerto said that Angas can be considered a “bodegero” or stockkeeper as he would usually get a big volume of illegal drugs.

“Gahulat lang na siya na tawgan ka contact niya pag may magdul-ong na sang item,” he added.

Puerto said that Angas, a high-value individual, has been under monitoring for two weeks.

Puerto said that another drug suspect who was arrested early this month in a buy-bust also told the police about his alleged contact inside the said jail.

“Lain-lain ni ila gina tumod na contact kuno sa sulod,” he added.

With this, Puerto even suggested if the BJMP could impose signal jamming inside the jail to prevent persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from smuggling cellular phones or establishing contact with the outside.

For his part, Atty. Jairus Anthony Dogelio, BJMP-6 spokesperson, said they already suggested the use of signal jammers, but it will hamper some of the operations inside the jail, and other neighboring offices.

Dogelio said that such allegation may not be true as he noted that the claims of the arrested persons about their alleged contact inside the jail might be their strategy to end the interrogation by the police on them and shift attention to BJMP.

“Daw it’s like kung ipasa nila sa jail, easy na lang for them to end it,” he added.

Dogelio said the BJMP personnel continue to conduct intensified greyhound operations – either random or regular – to detect and seize contrabands inside the jail facilities.

He also said that since the pandemic started, PDLs were only allowed to see or talk to their loved ones virtually, through cellular phones or other gadgets provided by the BJMP personnel during E-dalaw.

Dogelio said they will check and verify such report, while Puerto said they will refer the matter to the BCPO higher-ups.

Meanwhile, around 500 grams of suspected shabu worth P3.4 million was seized by PDEG-6 and local police in a buy-bust at Barangay 21, in Victorias City, Negros Occidental last Thursday.

Arrested were two Bacolod residents – Jesther Soquena, 46, of Barangay Taculing and the No. 1 drug personality in the city; and Biboy Dacumos of Barangay 1.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Fajardo Jr., Victorias City police chief, said Soquena was the subject of the operation, while Dacumos was his alleged cohort.

Fajardo said that Soquena was identified as the top drug personality in the city because of his area of operation.

“Indi man siya resident, pero diri (Victorias) siya ga transact,” he added.

Fajardo said the two suspects were silent about the allegations against them and would not even tell the police their source.

“Parang sanay na sila, that’s why limited sila maghambal,” the police chief said, adding that the case is very sensitive, considering the value of illegal drugs recovered from them.

Despite their non-revelation, Fajardo believed that the illegal drugs came from Bacolod.

All three arrested have yet to be reached for comment. Drug charges are being readied against them.

Police Brigadier General Flynn Dongbo, director of Police Regional Office-6 lauded the police operatives for two successful anti-illegal drug operations in a day.

“Congratulations! Ang accomplishments na ito ay nagpapakita lamang ng inyong sipag, dedikasyon at determinasyon sa inyong ginagampanang trabaho,” Dongbo said, as he urged them to continue and intensify their operations against persons engaging in illegal drugs.