The Davao City Council’s committee on peace and order and public safety headed by councilor Nilo Abellera Jr. will start discussing today the proposal to penalize people carrying illegal drugs and contraband inside Davao City Jail. In an interview, Abellera told Edge Davao that his committee will hear today the request of Jail Warden Superintendent Simeon S. Dolojo Jr. to enact an ordinance “Prohibiting the Sneaking, Using and carrying any form of Contraband inside the jail and Detention Places in the City of Davao and Providing Penalties for Violation.” “Karon maghimo na tag mga penalties para ma-enforce gyud strictly ang mga patakaran sa jail kay daghan mang gud og makalusot (We will impose penalties to enforce the regulations of the jail because there are people who really sneak in contraband)”Abellera said. He said hopefully the item will be discussed on second reading by May. Earlier, Dolojo said he is pushing for the ordinance because he wants zero incidents in Davao City Jail. He also said he wants to prevent the illegal drug trade inside the jail, which is rampant in other detention facilities in the country. He said the proposed penalty on the violators will also benefit the city because the jail will remit all fines that will be collected. Under section 6 of the proposed ordinance, the violator will be fined P1,500 or render community service for 24 hours, with subsidiary imprisonment for non-compliance of the service, for first offense. For the second offense, the violator will be fined P3,000 or render community service for 120 hours with subsidiary imprisonment for non-compliance of the service. For third and subsequent offenses, the violator will be fined P5,000 or render community service of eight hours for a month with subsidiary imprisonment for non-compliance of the service. The proposal aims to strengthen the implementation of security measures in the jail and prevent the occurrence of deaths, riots, hostage taking, and escape of inmates. The proposal also wants to prevent the inmates from coercing, intimidating, and threatening complainants and witnesses, order retaliation, orchestrate crimes, and organize rescue plans. The proposed ordinance will prevent the inmates from bribing jail officers or custodians since the possession of excessive amount of money will be prohibited. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.
