BJMP sacks warden after seizure of shabu, contraband from jail

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology head Chief Superintendent Deogracias Tapayan on Friday morning sacked the Metro Manila District Jail warden after the seizure of a large number of illegal items, suspected shabu, and drug paraphernalia in the facility.

Tapayan ordered the relief of Superintendent Gemelo Taol as suspected shabu hidden in jars of salt, pieces of drug paraphernalia were found in the facility and deadly weapons confiscated from inmates during "Greyhound Operation" by BJMP operatives.

Also recovered during the operation were 40 units of cellphones, 62 SIM cards, nine USB devices, 71 packs and 239 sticks of cigarettes, 409 sticks of tobacco wrapped in paper, and P88,220.00 cash.

“We want to get rid of contraband in jails, especially cellular phones and illegal drugs, and even personnel in cahoots with the inmates,” said Tapayan in a press statement.

He said that their operations will not stop until all 475 district, city and municipal jails across the country are cleared of illegal items.

“We will not stop hanggang maubos namin ang mga kontrabandong ito tutal ito naman talaga ang trabaho namin; pigilan naming makapasok ang mga kontrabandong ito at kung makapasok, paano namin papanagutin ang mga involved na personnel.”

The BMJP, with the support from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, has been conducting the operations in different jails for days.

In his message to jail wardens of the National Capital Region on Thursday, Tapayan stressed the strong stance of the bureau against illegal drugs in jails and to anyone who have involvement in the illegal drug trade in jails.

On the other hand, he said that the BJMP will be hiring 1,000 additional personnel in 2018, to beef up the 500 vacancies they filled up this year.

“So I will not think twice in dismissing erring personnel. We have so many applicants. If they can’t clean their facilities, they better quit from their post. If they cannot toe the line, I will welcome their resignation from the service,” he said. —LBG, GMA News