Phones, weapons seized in Iloilo jail sweeps

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Several mobile phones and improvised weapons were seized during surprise “greyhound” operations at two Iloilo jail facilities on Thursday, July 23.

The searches were conducted inside cells at the Iloilo District Jail-Male Dormitory in Barangay Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology District Jail in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo.

Jail Chief Inspector Juniven Rey Umadhay, spokesperson for BJMP Region 6, said authorities seized eight smartphones, five keypad phones, and several improvised sharp and pointed weapons.

Umadhay said the joint operations were conducted in compliance with a directive from the BJMP national headquarters.

The operations involved 330 BJMP personnel, including 82 members of the Special Tactics and Response Team.

Personnel from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police also joined the searches.

Eight PNP narcotics detection dogs were deployed during the operations.

Umadhay said the searches were intended to locate contraband and dismantle “kubols,” or makeshift private rooms and cubicles built by persons deprived of liberty.

Several kubols found inside the two jail facilities were dismantled and destroyed, he said.

More than 1,400 persons deprived of liberty at the Nanga jail and several hundred at the Ungka facility underwent surprise drug tests.

All test results were negative.

Umadhay said all personnel assigned to the two jails also underwent drug testing and tested negative.

“This reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to maintaining a drug-free workplace and custodial facility,” he said.

Umadhay said jail custodians and search personnel would be investigated following the discovery of mobile phones in the possession of inmates.

“They would be investigated because it should be part of their functions not to allow contrabands inside the inmates’ cells,” he added.

Similar operations will be conducted at least once a month, according to the BJMP.

Umadhay said the activity underscored BJMP Region 6’s commitment to maintaining safe, secure, and drug-free jail facilities through stronger interagency cooperation with the PDEA and the PNP.