PROHIBITED items were seized during a greyhound operation inside the Metro Bacolod District Jail-Special Intensive Care Area (MBDJ-Sica) in Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City, Monday morning.
Personnel of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-Negros Island Region (NIR) conducted the operation around 6 a.m. with the help of the police and operatives of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Recovered from the jail were a sachet of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), three cellular phones, and other items.
Jail Officer 2 Juniven Rey Umadhay, public information officer of BJMP-NIR, said Monday, July 24, that the operation is part of the cleansing drive in all jails in the region.
During the operation, 35 inmate leaders were transferred to another jail after the BJMP received intelligence reports that they can be threats to the security of other inmates.
Of the 35 inmate leaders, 18 were moved to Negros Occidental District Jail in Bago City and the remaining 17 were transferred to Bago City District Jail.
Moreover, 765 inmates at MBDJ-Sica conducted a noise barrage when they knew about the transfer of the inmate leaders. They also urged the regional office to remove Superintendent Larry Fuentes as jail warden of MBDJ-Sica, complaining about their food and strict guidelines.
Umadhay said Senior Superintendent Alberto Balauag, acting director of BJMP-NIR, had a dialogue with the inmates.
"He (regional director) tried to patch things up between the jail officers and the inmates," he added.
Balauag did not relieve Fuentes from his post as he has his trust and confidence on him.
Umadhay said Balauag also told the inmates the manner of preparation of the food will be changed.
In terms of strict inspection of visitors, Umadhay said the jail only follows the guidelines and does not violate anything.
