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A House bill that seeks to end the proliferation of prohibited objects inside penal, custodial, and detention facilities is being pushed for immediate passage by House Committee on Dangerous Drugs Chairman Rep. Robert Ace Barbers. 

Through House Bill (HB) No. 9153, Barbers wants to implement the Contraband Detection and Control System (CDCS), where penalties will be provided for possessing, introducing, aiding, or abetting the entry of contraband. 

“The bill is necessary in order for our government agencies to impose the appropriate penalties for persons and syndicates who continue to commit illegal activities inside correctional, detention and custodial facilities, especially convicted drug lords and hardened criminals who use these facilities as their own protected kingdom for criminal activities even while incarcerated,” Barbers said in a statement on Thursday, Nov. 16. 

HB No. 9153 was approved on second reading during plenary session Wednesday, Nov. 15. 

Contraband is defined in the bill as any object that is prohibited by law to be obtained or possessed inside correctional, custodial, and detention facilities. 

These include illegal drugs, firearms, explosives, alcohol or intoxicating beverage, cigarettes, tobacco products, vapes, all forms of currency and monetary instruments, electronic communication devices, and luxury items such as appliances, gambling or gaming equipment, and jewelry. 

Any item that is capable of threatening the safety, security, or health of persons in the correctional institution, or any item that can be used for planning, aiding, or executing the escape from such facilities is considered contraband as well.

Barbers, who represents the 2nd district of Surigao del Norte, is one of the principal authors of this measure.

“HB No. 9153 principally aims to prevent the proliferation of contraband in prison by mandating all government agencies and local government units that operate and maintain any correctional, custodial or detention facility to establish and implement a [CDCS],” he noted.

Under the bill, the CDCS will cover all facilities that detain or hold persons deprived of liberty (PDL). 

It will be implemented through the use of handled and walk-through metal detectors, X-ray scanners, K-9 units, and other modern technology and devices.

Any person who shall introduce, convey, or attempt to introduce dangerous drugs, firearms, and explosives will face imprisonment ranging from 20 years and one day to 40 years and a fine of not less than P5 million but not more than P10 million. 

For other kinds of contraband, the penalty of imprisonment ranges from six years and one day to 12 years and a fine of not less than P1 million but not more than P5 million.

Aside from penalties of fine and imprisonment, any public official, jail authority and employee in violation will also be penalized with perpetual absolute disqualification from holding public office and forfeiture of all retirement benefits and accrued leave credits. -Dexter Barro II