ILOILO City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod approved on second and final reading a proposed ordinance penalizing the smuggling of contrabands in jails.
Authored by Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo, the ordinance prohibits the unauthorized bringing into city prison facilities of mobile phones, handsets and other gadgets or devices of similar nature.
“In the possession of inmates, these gadgets pose a threat to the security of jails, their fellow inmates, personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the public,” said Peñaredondo.
The ordinance penalizes the violators.
“The purpose of this ordinance is to prevent inmates from communicating with other persons in or outside the jail and plan or pursue criminal activities,” explained Peñaredondo.
The violators’ maximum penalty is 180 days in prison and a fine of P5,000.
The contrabands will be confiscated in favor of the BJMP.
If the offender is a minor, Peñaredondo said the law on minors will be applied.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod crafted this ordinance following an appeal from the warden of the Iloilo City District Jail – Male Dormitory, Superintendent Vicente Papelera.
According to him, the problem persisted because there were no heavy penalties imposed on the smugglers (visitors of inmates)./PN
