SEIZURE OF SHABU INSIDE BBRC

Scandalous. The seizure of P35,000 worth of shabu from inmates at the
Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC) Friday last week was not
only alarming but also highly scandalous.

It is simply unthinkable that of all places in the world, so to speak,
shabu is found at the BBRC where the entry of visitors is supposedly
strict and rigid. Yes, it happened and not a single BBRC personnel is
foolish enough to scream mea culpa.

Indeed, there was valid basis for Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena to then
order the suspension of the City's contribution for the inmates' meal
allowance. The lapses of the jail authorities on this matter were too
basic to be doubted.

On the other hand, this also confirmed previous suspicions that the
said illegal drug was in circulation at the jail during the time Ruben
Ecleo, Jr. who is facing parricide charges, was detained at the BBRC.

Personally, I see no reason to include this incident in the
forthcoming congressional inquiry on illegal drugs. How can this
incident aid legislation? Simply nada.

All that I can imagine is that the BBRC officials will only be put to
public shame and embarrassment just like what happened in the previous
congressional inquiries. It will only be a waste of public funds that
this almost bankrupt government badly needs.

We already have more than appropriate criminal and administrative laws
that are sufficient to charge and punish those who may be responsible
in the entry and proliferation of shabu inside BBRC.

The illegal drug trade inside the BBRC must be good business and those
involved must be gnawing their teeth now after Councilor Jun Pe
conducted a surprise inspection and uncovered shabu inside a cell at
BBRC.

Pardon me for the language but doing shabu business inside the jail is
more than safe than anyone can imagine. Funny, but it's true. Think
about it, the police or the PDEA elements do not have access inside
the jail.

With how things happened, nobody in his right frame of mind will ever
believe that not one of the BBRC guards noticed the entry of those
illegal drugs through the facility's main entrance.

An investigation by the Cebu City Government or an independent law
enforcement agency, but not necessarily a congressional inquiry, is
more than fitting to ferret out the truth and bring before the bar of
justice those who may be responsible without fear or favor.

This is not an accusation of a wrongdoing, but the case at the BBRC
might just be a tip of the iceberg of what is possibly happening in
the other jails in the country under the Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology (BJMP).