Pubdate: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 Source: Philippine Star (Philippines) Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2005 Contact: http://www.philstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622 Author: Ding Cervantes Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines DISPLACED JUETENG WORKERS SHIFTING TO ILLEGAL DRUGS TRADE CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga - Are displaced jueteng workers shifting to the illegal drugs trade? This question has cropped up at the height of the crackdown on jueteng as reports as cases of drug-related crimes in the region have reportedly increased. Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) regional director Senior Superintendent Diony Mamaril said reports as of yesterday showed that about 65 percent of some 3,553 inmates in 32 jail facilities under his office in Central Luzon are booked for drug-related cases. A 12 percent increase in the population of BJMP inmates in the region in the recent months was also noted. In the midst of the jueteng crackdown that started last April, police authorities called on local government officials and the private sector to help those who would be dislocated, expressing fears that affected jueteng workers would shift their trade to illegal drugs. Jueteng reportedly provides livelihood to some 100,000 families in Central Luzon. Mamaril, however, could not say whether the increase in the number of prisoners involved in illegal drugs could be correlated to the displacement of jueteng workers. He noted that about 45 percent of those jailed for drug-related offenses were facing various criminal cases committed while under the influence of prohibited drugs. No information is available on how many were former jueteng workers. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has offered livelihood loans of P5,000 each to the displaced jueteng workers, but the loan is limited only to the most needy. Mamaril also noted that since the start of the government's campaign against jueteng last April, only about 180 suspected jueteng workers were sent to jail in BJMP facilities in Central Luzon and all of them were able to post the P2,000 bail immediately. In the past, jueteng lords were believed to provide bail money for their workers. He observed that no jueteng "big fish" was jailed in any of the BJMP facilities. "All of them were small-time jueteng workers," he noted. Mamaril also expressed concern over the increasing population of inmates in BJMP jails. He said that the 3,553 inmates are now crowded in the jails under his agency in Central Luzon. "Ideally, we should allocate 30 square meters for every 10 inmates, but in our region, such space is filled up by an average of 50 inmates," he added. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has allocated some P100 million for the expansion of BJMP jails, but noted that Central Luzon was not included as beneficiary. The fund would be used for expansions in BJMP facilities in Bicutan in Taguig, Calamba in Laguna, and Cebu City. "But I have requested that there may be some left-over funds so that we can expand our jail in San Fernando, Pampanga," he said. - ---