Zambales gov orders investigation of drug trade in provincial jail

ZAMBALES, Philippines – Zambales Governor Amor Deloso on Wednesday, September 28, ordered a thorough investigation of the illegal drug trade inside the provincial jail here after another surprise inspection yielded more illegal drugs and bank deposit slips.

Deloso has instructed provincial police director Senior Supt. Christopher Mateo to investigate the involvement of the persons whose names appeared in the deposit slips and the confiscated drugs.

The instruction came after Mateo, in coordination with the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) headed by P/SSupt. Bernardd Marzal and K-9 Unit of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, organized OPLAN Galugad, a surprise inspection in the provincial jail.

The inspection on Monday, September 26, resulted in the confiscation of shabu weighing more or less 35 grams with estimated market value of P240,000, a digital weighing scale, and 226 grams of marijuana bricks.

Also found were 3 Bank of the Philippine Islands deposit slips dated August 8, 19 and 25, 2016, with amounts totaling P63,000 under the account name Vanissa Noor.

Two deposit slips for Banco de Oro dated September 7 and September 17, with total amount of P50,000 under the account name Mahid Noor, were also found.

The team also recovered a PlayStation Portable console, tablets, 83 pieces of assorted cellphones and chargers, 2 portable DVD sets, 6 plier cutters, 32 pairs of scissors, 70 assorted bladed weapons, 8 batons, drug paraphernalia, and around 200 pieces of transparent plastic sachets in different sizes.

Earlier this month, Deloso relieved CSupt. Romulo Salamat as Zambales Provincial Jail Warden after his failure to stop the entry of illegal drugs in the provincial jail. Deloso appointed retired Colonel Amado Paneda to head the jail in acting capacity.

Deloso showed his disappointment after witnessing the “horrible” management system of the jail, which lacks health care facilities, comfort rooms, a dedicated kitchen area and adequate sleeping beds.

The governor also questioned why illegal drugs get smuggled into the jail.

“Obviously, there is conspiracy between the drug suppliers and the jail management,” Deloso said. – Rappler.com