Pubdate: Sat, 12 Jun 2004
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer (Philippines)
Copyright: 2004 Philippine Daily Inquirer
Contact:  http://www.inquirer.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1073

DRUGS, VIOLENCE HOUND PANGASINAN PROVINCIAL JAIL

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- Weeks after police seized shabu (methamphetamine 
hydrochloride) from inmates at the Pangasinan provincial jail, trouble 
continued to haunt the prison when an inmate stabbed another and the acting 
provincial warden found sachets of shabu on the walls.

Chief Inspector Jerich Rosales, officer in charge of the provincial jail, 
said two shabu sachets worth 4,000 pesos were wrapped in tissue paper and 
electric tape and inserted inside cracks of the walls.

Rosales was appointed officer-in-charge after provincial legal officer 
Geraldine Baniqued suspended provincial warden Felimon Doria when a 
surprise inspection conducted by the provincial police's special operations 
group and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group yielded more than 
100 grams of shabu from five inmates.

Doria and the provincial jails are being investigated by the provincial 
government's committee on administrative cases for gross misconduct, 
neglect of duty, abuse of authority and violation of civil service regulations.

Rosales said the shabu could have been part of the illegal drugs brought to 
the inmates during visiting hours.

"Maybe the team that conducted the surprise inspection did not notice the 
sachets," Rosales said. He said none of the inmates admitted owning the drugs.

Superintedent Rolando Magno, group director of the SOG, said he has filed 
cases for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs of 2002 against 
inmates Abelardo Punzal, Peter Castillo, Jerry Lumna, Benjaim Lui and Susan 
Manahan.

Rosales said because of the drug problem inside the jail, he has 
implemented strict rules such as no movement among inmates from one cell to 
another.

Because of this, when prisoner Melvin Licdao, 19, went to another cell, 
another inmate, stabbed him. Yolanda S. Fuertes, Inquirer Northern Luzon Bureau
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D