By Cris Diaz
MISAMIS ORIENTAL, (PNA) -– The clandestine drug trade inside the provincial jail in Misamis Oriental was busted on Wednesday morning, jail authorities said on Thursday.
Dominador G. Tagarda, the provincial jail warden, said that a 36-year-old woman who was visiting an inmate blew the illicit the drug trade that has been an object of intense surveillance by jail authorities in the past years.
Tagarda identified the suspect as Simpan Maningkara, 36,married, of Barangay Balamanaw, Marawi City.
During the routine body search, Maningkara allegedly turned out 23 sachets containing white substance believed to be the illegal “Shabu, with an estimated street value of P 23,000” Tagarda said.
“Shabu” (Methamphetamine), is also known as the “poor man’s cocaine” that had become rampant in the country’s illicit drug trade.
Tagarda said that an alert woman jail guard discovered the illegal drugs along with 10 tinfoils concealed in the woman’s headband and neatly folded hair.
“The tin foil is a drug paraphernalia employed during a pot session,” Tagarda added.
Provincial Guard Nelfa Nacaytuna who was conducting the routine check asked Maningkara to unfold her hair which resulted in the discovery of the hidden illegal drugs and its paraphernalia.
During the initial investigation, Maningkara told the jail guards that she was at the provincial jail to visit a certain Laot Ampaso.
Ampaso was facing charges with violation of the anti-illegal drug law docketed under Criminal Case No. 2011-259 and 2011-260, Tagarda said.
Maningkara also confessed to jail authorities that it was her sixth to sneak an illegal drug in the provincial jail here under pretext of visiting an inmate, Tagarda said.
He said that jail authorities had seized a total of 64 sachets containing the illegal shabu substance to suspects pretending to be visiting inmates in the past.
According to Tagarda, jail authorities were worried some of the clandestine drug trade inside the provincial jail here since 34 per cent of the inmates were facing drug related cases.
“At present, there are 75 inmates who are facing drug related cases. Jail authorities are always on guard of drug runners and pushers who always try to breach the security in a bid to ply the illicit drugs even in the noses of hawk eyed authorities,” Tagarda said.
He said that those who were arrested while trying to sneak illegal drugs at the provincial in the past were subsequently charged and convicted. “Most them have been promoted to languish in the penal colony,” Tagarda said.
Tagarda said that jail authorities were now waiting for the result of the crime laboratory examination of the alleged drug substance and paraphernalia seized in the possession of Maningkara.
“If the crime laboratory examination probe positive, we will immediately file the appropriate charges against Maningkara: “In the meantime, Maningkara now found a comfortable corner in the provincial jail while in the custody of the jail authorities,” Tagarda said. (PNA) hbc/CD/utb (Oro)DOLE to promote culture of voluntary compliance
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Sept. 19 (PNA) -– The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Northern Mindanao a new labor law aimed at promoting the culture of voluntary compliance here.
Alan M. Macaraya, DOLE regional director, said on Thursday that the new Labor Law Compliance System (LLCS) would be implemented next month under Department Order No. 130-13.
He said that the LLCS was the integrated framework for voluntary compliance and enforcement of labor laws and social legislations issued pursuant to the rule-making and visitorial and enforcement power of the Labor Secretary.
“It is to promote the culture of voluntary compliance with the labor laws,” Macaraya said in a talk to the local press here.
He said that the LLCS also ensure fair, expeditious and non-litigated settlement of disputes, encourages the use of settlement in all labor cases and strengthen tripartism among employees, employers and the government.
According to Macaraya, there are no more inspectors in DOLE. Instead, individuals called Labor Law Compliance Officers (LLCOs) will be tasked to assess private establishments to be compliant with the law and the standards.
Macaraya also reported that President Benigno S. Aquino allowed 372 positions for LLCOs.In the region, assigned LLCOs are currently undergoing a series of seminars for the purpose of quality implementation of the new system.
The LLCOs is far more better than the Sanction Approach conducted by Labor Inspectors under Department Order No. 57, series of 2004 or the so-called Labor Standards Enforcement Framework because the approach is more on voluntary compliance, Macaraya said.
He said that the implementation would flow in three modes. First is the Joint Assessment where LLCOs will assess establishments employing 10 or more employees, country’s registered ships or vessels engaged in domestic shipping, sea and land-based manpower agencies that are engaged in hazardous work, contracting and sub-contracting arrangements, and employing child employees.
Second is the Compliance Visit. In here, LLCOs will process from request for assistance in the Single Entry Approach (SEnA) and found complaints for labor standards violation.
Third is the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Investigation. In this, on the other hand, covers instances for imminent danger, dangerous occurrences, and accidents resulting to disabling injury. Included in this also are OSH violations committed in plain view or in the presence of the LCCO.
The new system was drafted on June 2012 where the DOLE’s Joint Review Committee was created.