By ERMA R. EDERA
AROUND Php800,000 cash were seized during “Oplan Linis Piitan” conducted by members of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Saturday inside a secret room at the Manila City Jail (MCJ).
Jail Senior Inspector Jayrex Buestinera, MCJ spokesperson said the raid was conducted inside the Dormitory 11 and 12 which accommodates an estimated 1,200 inmates including members of the Sigue Sigue Sputnik Gang.
Buestinera said no drugs were seized from the inmates in MCJ but authorities found cash stuffed inside a green large plastic water and soda bottles inside the sealed room.
Prior to the discovery of the money, the police asked an inmate about the sealed doorway but he claimed the room is to keep inmates from escaping.
However, police were not convinced and knocked down the door and yielded seven big plastic containers with stuffed money of different denominations. Record books were also found which showed a list of items bought from the small convenience store inside the jail.
Also recovered from the jail were gallons of fermented juice suspected to be alcoholic beverage, sharp weapons, paddles, and other illegal electronic gadgets.
Bustinera said that they are still conducting an investigation regarding the source of the money.
As of press time, Buestinera said the inmates claimed that the money came from different visitors.
BJMP members were backed by operatives of the Manila Police District (MPD) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) when they launched the operation at 6 a.m.
“Aside from Oplan Linis Piitan, which is done every quarter, we conduct search operations everyday in particular cells of the jail. We will also implement strict searching measures against visitors of inmates through random strip searching,” Buestinera added.
Jail officials said President Duterte has ordered the confiscation of drugs and other contraband items in the facility which houses 6,298 inmates.
Meantime, A barangay chairman was mauled by vendors after they learned his plans to remove their stalls last Thursday in Quiapo, Manila.
The police said around 200 vendors were having a dialogue inside the barangay hall with Chairman Johnny de la Cruz of Barangay 308, Zone 30 at around 2 p.m.
After the vendors learned his plans about the road clearing operation, Luis “Leo” Madrigal who was believed to be armed punched Dela Cruz on his face.
Upon seeing that more vendors were coming in, Dela Cruz’s brother reportedly took a gun and fired twice into the air to stop the vendors.
Moments later, members of the Manila Police District-Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team arrived and took control of the situation.
“I want to maintain orderliness in my barangay because the vendors have occupied the streets and sidewalks. The size of the stalls were beyond the required sizes. I was just following the orders of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada,” Dela Cruz said in Filipino.
The vendors in the area are claiming they were paying barangay officials for the space they occupy.
