By Jesus M. Ustares
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, July 8 (PNA) — Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez is contemplating the creation of an enforcement task group that would monitor the alleged entry of illegal narcotics and other smuggled items into the provincial jail.
Returning warden retired colonel Ramon Espina told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Monday that the governor instructed him to create such body to resolve the problem of illegal drugs allegedly entering the Palawan Provincial Jail (PPJ) through food items and other materials being smuggled inside by relatives of the detainees.
Espina said Alvarez’s resolve to make the provincial jail drug-free was brought about by a series of discoveries that relatives and family members visiting the jail never stopped attempting to bring drugs inside, particularly shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride.
He called on around 500 inmates at the PPJ to cooperate with the jail administration and management on eliminating drugs, and warned that anyone who will be caught will not escape the “hands of the law.”
“Our goal is while they are detained here is for them to reform while their cases are being heard. But if they continue to patronize illegal drugs, then they definitely have problems,” he said, stating in addition that he will not hesitate to enforce the anti-illegal drugs law against them. (PNA)