A bill seeking to strengthen the detection and control capabilities of all contrabands, such as illegal drugs, in prisons and detention facilities through modern technologies has been filed in the House of Representatives.
Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, filed House Bill (HB) No. 6126, or the “Anti-Proliferation of Contraband in Prison Act of 2022,” on Monday, Nov. 14.
The lawmaker said that the bill was born from a “series of events,” such as the discovery of thousands of contrabands, including shabu, and the use of a prisoner as a middleman in the senseless killing of veteran broadcaster Percy Lapid Mabasa.
“As such, this bill aims to put an end to these shenanigans by mandating all prison and detention facilities to implement an extensive contraband interdiction procedures through the employment of modern detection devices, units and technologies in order to cut the flow of prohibited objects or items inside the penal institutions,” he stated in the bill’s explanatory note.
Barbers added that it is “very alarming” that prisoners still enjoy the liberty of accessing gambling materials, illegal drugs, weapons, and communication devices.
“The situation that we have right now in our correctional institution runs counter to very foundations of our criminal justice system that mandates punishment, reformation and/or rehabilitation of offenders for their crimes,” he said.
“This sinister activity of contraband smuggling in prison, if not properly addressed would not only undermine the safety and security of our penal facilities but also the public in general,” the lawmaker furthered.
The bill states that all prison and detention facilities shall set up “interdiction measures necessary to combat the proliferation of contraband through the employment of modern technology, devices or units.”
These include the use of hand-held metal detectors, walk-through metal detectors, X-ray security scanners, K-9 units specializing in cellphones/gadgets and narcotics detection, and signal jammers for cellphones, drones and other similar gadgets or technologies.
These devices would be used on top of traditional search method, the bill added.
The measure imposes up to 40 years imprisonment and a fine of P5 million to any person who shall introduce dangerous drugs and deadly weapons or those who will be caught in possession of these in a prison facility.
The introduction or possession of other kinds of contraband in prison as defined under the measure shall be punished by imprisonment ranging from six years and one day to 12 years and a fine of P1 million.
“To wipeout graft and corruption inside the correctional institutions, jail authorities who shall be found facilitating or assisting in the introduction or conveyance of these prohibited items shall be dealt with severe penalties, in addition to disqualification from holding public office and the forfeiture of all his/her retirement benefits.”