Most PDLs in Baguio jail due to drug violations
Most of the 422 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) currently incarcerated in the Baguio City Jail-Male Dorm (BCJ-MD) are due to violations of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
BCJ-MD Supt. Mary Ann Tresmanio said that as of June 24 this year, the top five crimes committed by PDLs are: 255 for violating RA 9165; 45 for rape; 29 for murder; 12 for homicide; 11 for acts of lasciviousness in relation to RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act); and 11 PDLs for robbery.
She gave the report during the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) 2nd Quarter Meeting, June 28 and 29, led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Department of the Interior and Local Government Baguio Office Dir. Millicent Carino. The two-day activity was conducted by the Special Services Division under officer-in-charge Michelle Agbuya.
As to the mode of release of PDLs due to RA 9165 for the 2nd quarter of 2022, Tresmanio said seven were acquitted, six served their sentence, five were dismissed, two are under probation, two were transferred, and one is on bail.
Regular ‘Greyhound Operations’ or searches for contraband inside each jail cell and environs were also conducted together with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and police personnel including the use of drug-sniffing dogs that, Tresmanio said, has not produced any illegal substance or material, so far.
She said a total of 43 PDLs have undergone Outpatient Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation (ODTR) and 39 for Drug Dependency Examination (DDE) for the period.
Meanwhile, the Baguio City Jail-Female Dorm (BCJ-FD) under Senior Insp. Vilma Fangsilat presently has 96 PDLs with 52 caught violating RA 9165 and 35 for estafa and illegal recruitment.
She said three of the PDLs are inside for qualified trafficking in persons; two for murder; and one each for homicide, qualified theft, violation of RA 7610 and perjury/ falsification.
Regular greyhound operations inside the Female Dorm were also conducted with no illegal drugs intercepted, Fangsilat disclosed.
She said two PDLs are currently undergoing weekly ODTR program.
Random drug testing was conducted by PDEA -CAR in both Jail Dorms on their personnel and PDLs with all tests yielding negative results. – Gaby B. Keith
