11 jail guards sacked
Eleven jail guards of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City were relieved from their posts after inspectors discovered illegal drugs inside the jail early this week.
Relieved effective December 14 were Senior Jail Officer 3 Jose Gerard Simpas, SJO1 Cesar Tabunoc, JO2 Alejandro Deza, JO1 Reynaldo Palma, and JO1 Dennis Higinio Tabuzo, who were all reassigned to the BJMP Regional Office 6 in Iloilo City.
SJO1 Yolando Soguilon and JO1 Ma. Victoria Palomo were transferred to the Iloilo City District Jail female dormitory.
On December 15, four more were relieved, including SJO1 Emellete Naaman and JO2 Daniel Rivera, now with the BJMP-Jordan in Guimaras, and JO2 Jazman Demonteverde and JO1 Denia Armentia, who were reassigned to Passi City and Guimbal jails, respectively.
Insp. Jimmy Britanico of BJMP Ungka Jail said JO2 Saddie Plazo was also relieved on December 15, but his order was not a result of the Operation Greyhound on December 13.
Plazo was transferred to Bacolod City District Jail female dorm as part of the BJMP’s routine revamp.
During the Operation Greyhound, inspectors from the BJMP and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency found 110 sachets of shabu inside a sack of rice allegedly owned by drug inmate Levy Zerrudo, who is linked to the Odicta drug group.
Zerrudo, the jail’s mayor de mayors, was recently convicted and is due for transfer to the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
Britanico said that following the Greyhound operations, he was found positive for drugs after he was tested at the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory.
“As such, he was stripped of his privileges (including visitation rites) as head of the inmates,” Britanico added.
Zerrudo was replaced by his underling Allan Guillergan, who is also facing illegal drug charges.*
