Conflict in drug trade may be behind ambush

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III with CPDRC Administrator Reynaldo Valmoria and Provincial Security Unit Chief Bobby Tolentino arrive at the place where the CPDRC vehicle, on the way to court, was ambushed by armed men riding two motorcycles. All the people on board the vehicle were killed including high profile inmate Jerryfer Perigrino.
CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA

Could drug business relationships turned sour be behind the ambush-slay of two jail guards and high-profile drug inmate Jerryfer Perigrino?

Jail warden Reynaldo Valmoria of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) believes that conflict in the drug trade inside the jail facility was the motive behind the ambush that resulted in the killing of Perigrino and prison guards Joel Teves and Bernie Bayotas.

Valmoria said Perigrino was among the inmates who constantly yield contraband, including drugs and paraphernalia, during greyhound operations conducted inside the jail.

After yielding a medium pack of illegal drugs inside the cell that only he occupied, during a random greyhound operation, Valmoria said Perigrino divulged names of drug personalities that operate in CPDRC during an interrogation last August.

According to Valmoria, Perigrino admitted to him and to some officials of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) that one of those who ply the drug trade inside the penitentiary is alleged drug lord Alvaro “Barok” Alvaro, who is also detained in the same jail.

However, Valmoria said he cannot be sure if Barok’s camp is behind the ambush.

Valmoria also said that Perigrino was also involved in troubles inside the jail, prompting him to isolate the latter.

“Naa na syay mga kontra sa sulod. Naa ni siyay problema sa sulod. Ako ning gi-isolate og selda kay naay background nga gubot nga involved sya, basin patyon unya siya sa sulod,” the warden said.

(He has a lot of enemies inside, that’s why I isolated him because he might be killed inside the jail.)

The jail official said Perigrino seldom has visitors because he is originally from Bato, Leyte but was apprehended in Argao, Cebu still for charges involving illegal drugs.

“He is alone in his cell. When I conducted a selective greyhound last month, I found one medium pack of shabu. That is why gi-filan nako’g kaso nga illegal possession of drugs.(That is why I filled a complaint for illegal possession of drugs.) Gipa-inquest nako last month unya gahapon (Wednesday) pa nigawas ang resolution,” Valmoria explained.

“Actually, gahapon (Wednesday) pa ni sila niadto sa Qimonda for the filing of the information with regards sa kaso aning namatay nga illegal possession of drugs. They went there 2 o’clock then nasirad-an sila and they were advised to go back today,” he added.

Valmoria dismissed speculations of special treatment given to Perigrino that is why he was the only detainee in the CPDRC vehicle in going to the court.

He explained that it was only Valmoria who was scheduled to go to court.

Valmoria said that the main target of the ambush might have been Perigrino and the jail guards were only collateral damage.

However, the jail warden also said that the two jail guards who escorted Perigrino to court also have a pending cases before the Committee on Discipline and Investigation (CODI) and were among the jail personnel who were being monitored for possible involvement in the smuggling of drugs inside the jail.

“But I don’t want to touch on that lang kay the family of the jail guards are also grieving. Let us wait for the result of the investigation of the police,” said Valmoria.

Valmoria, however, said the family of the jail guards, who both served for 15 years in CPDRC, will receive death benefits since they died while in the performance of their duties.

Valmoria said they plan to request for more police personnel from the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) to escort inmates who will be going out to attend trial.

At present, about 15 PNP personnel are detailed in CPDRC but are only assigned to secure the facility.

Governor Hilario Davide III, who went to the crime scene in Barangay Kalunasan, said he will discuss with Valmoria on how to improve security in and around the jail.