Some of the confiscated items from inmates of the Lapu-Lapu City jail were presented to local media.
There were no drugs uncovered during yesterday dawn’s Operation Greyhound in both Lapu-Lapu and Cebu City jails.
Instead a team consisting of jail personnel, police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents seized drug paraphernalia, cell phones, cigarettes and improvised bladed weapons in a raid at the Cebu City Jail.
In Lapu-Lapu City, the same composite team confiscated small tobacco pieces from the inmates. Supt. Renante Rubio, Cebu City Jail warden, said they raided the cells of suspected drug dealers.
“We have not found any illegal drugs but this will not be the last greyhound operation,” Rubio said.
Only two of the four buildings of the Lapu-Lapu City Jail were inspected by the raiding team, Lapu-Lapu City Jail warden Supt. Julius Arro said.
“We are serious with our campaign (against contraband). Those inmates including their leaders will be subject to questioning to trace where these contraband came from and how it slipped through,” Arro said.
To prevent prisoners from slipping cell phones inside the jail, Rubio said a telephone booth will be installed inside the facility.
“Since we are putting fishnets and wires, it’s not so easy for the outsiders to throw the contraband. Now they used different tactics,” Rubio said.
He said inmates resort to “fishing” by casting a nylon thread to their outside contacts, who then tie up the contraband and tug at the string to notify that the package is delivered.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak said Mayor Tomas Osmeña approved his proposal for a telephone booth inside the Cebu City Jail.
“We are just waiting for the telecommunication company to install it,” Tumulak said.
He said there will be restrictions on using the phone booth.
“First one inmate can only use the telephone for three minutes and their calls will be scheduled. We will record their conversation in order to monitor any illegal activities,” Tumulak said.