Cellphones allegedly smuggled inside Cebu City Jail for a price, says ex-inmate

An investigation is underway at the Cebu City Jail male dormitory due to anomalies allegedly committed by some jail personnel including smuggling cellphones in exchange for cash.

In the GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak report of Alan Domingo aired on "24 Oras," a former inmate, Gordon (not his real name), disclosed that some jail guards allegedly receive P50,000 to P60,000 in exchange for allowing inmates access to ordinary cellphones. 

"50-60 mil ordinary cellphone na. Kinsa mang mopasulod ana? Kadtong mga bjmp inmates nga bigtimer sa sulod. (Fifty, 60 mil ordinary cellphone 'yon. Sino namang nagpadala sa loob? 'Yong BJMP inmates na mga bigtimer sa loob)," said Gordon.

He said that whenever there was a greyhound operation or inspection inside the jail facility, it is the corrupt jail personnel themselves who hide the cellphones.

“Ako bigtime ko sir, hiposa ni, ako bahala nimo sir. O, sige ako hipos ani. Kining mga BJMP daghan mga karaan BJMP pila na ka tuig sa serbisyo diha,” he added.

(Ako, bigtime ako sir, ingatan nyo ang cellphone ko, ako na ang bahala sa inyo sir. Itong mga BJMP maraming matagal na sa serbisyo.)

With this revelation, the Cebu City Jail also coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for an in-depth investigation into the allegations.

“Even without that padayon sa paglihok ang atong intelligence investigation team para pagkaykay kon unsa gyud ni nga mi-surface na siyag balik,” said JO3 Blanche Bation Aliño, Information Officer- Cebu City Jail Male dorm.

(Even without that, patuloy tayo sa pagsasagawa ang intelligence investigation team para makapagsagawa tayo ng malalim na imbestigasyon kung ano talaga itong lumabas ulit na issue.)

City Jail officials have also encouraged Gordon to identify the personnel involved so as to clear those that are not involved.

The Police Regional Office, meanwhile, will partner with BJMP in the investigation especially with the possibility that the cellphones are used in the illegal drug trade inside and outside the jail facility.

"We will conduct an investigation upon request from BJMP; of course, we will be willing to investigate, especially we can correlate with contrabands," said Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, PNP Regional Division spokesperson.

The police are also ready to protect the whistleblower, who is currently in their custody, if needed.

"As a matter of procedure, informants are always secured especially in the PNP," Pelare added. -- Sherylin Untalan/BAP, GMA Integrated News