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BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA
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ILOILO – The Iloilo District Jail in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo houses several high-profile suspected drug personalities but is not – and won’t be – like the drug-plagued New Bilibid Prison, according to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
The provincial jail management is constantly monitoring these inmates’ movements for possible illegal activities, said Senior Inspector Abner Zamora, warden.
One high-profile inmate at the prison facility is Jesus “Jing-jing” Espinosa Jr. of Barangay Monica Blumentritt, Iloilo City. He is currently serving an eight-year prison sentence for frustrated murder but he is also ranked No. 2 in Iloilo City – Police Station 1’s list of suspected drug personalities.
Another high-profile inmate at the Iloilo District Jail is 26-year-old drug suspect Jhon Rey Prevendido, son of suspected drug lord Richard Prevendido of Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
Jhon Rey was arrested in a buy-bust operation just this Oct. 7. The charge filed against him is non-bailable.
Also detained there is drug suspect Rolando “Apâ” Torpio whom the Police Regional Office 6 classified as a “high-value target.”
This resident of Barangay South San Jose, Molo, Iloilo City was charged with illegal drug possession in 2013 and was allowed to post bail. But he recently sought the cancellation of his bail bond; he believed he would be safer inside the district jail, citing the threats he had been receiving.
According to Warden Zamora, prison guards see to it that these high-profile drug inmates and others do not engage in illegal drug activities unlike their counterparts at the New Bilibid Prison that were discovered to be conducting illegal drug transactions using cell phones.
“Gina-intensify naton ang intelligence monitoring,” said Zamora.
The Iloilo District Jail has eight dormitories and four of these are for inmates with drug-related cases.
The jail currently has a population of 1,673 inmates (1,578 males and 95 females).
According to Zamora, “49 percent” of the male inmates and “70 percent” of the female inmates have drug-related cases.
None of the inmates enjoy special treatment such as being allowed to possess cellphones, stressed Zamora.
“Regardless kun high-profile or ordinary inmate ka, pare-pareho ang pagtrato namon,” said Zamora.
His men conduct unannounced inspections of cells to catch inmates who may be harboring prohibited items such as phones, illegal drugs, liquor, etc.
At the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, high-profile inmates were discovered to be living a privileged life. Among others, they have air-conditioners, television sets and phones. Raids have resulted to the recovery of bundles of money, luxury watches, shabu, etc.
The BJMP sees more drug suspects packing the Iloilo District Jail due to the campaign against illegal drugs.
Already, the Iloilo City District Jail in Barangay Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City has stopped accepting inmates due to overcrowding at the facility. Arrested drug suspects in the city are being forwarded to Iloilo District Jail in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo.
Since July 1, 2016 when the Philippine National Police launched Oplan Double Barrel – the intensified antidrug campaign – the number of detainees remitted every week doubled, according to Senior Inspector Jimmy Britanico, BJMP Region 6 community relations service officer.
The Iloilo District Jail, previously known as the Iloilo Provincial Integrated Jail, was gradually turned over to BJMP in 2012. During the transmission period, BJMP took the management of the jail, including the maintenance and operating expenses.
The provincial government, on the other hand, provided assistance in terms of food subsidy.
In 2014, BJMP took the full responsibility of the jail./PN
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