Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers
SURIGAO del Norte Representative and Chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs Robert Ace S. Barbers calls for the immediate passage of House Bill No. 9153, which seeks to put an end to the proliferation of prohibited objects or items inside all penal, custodial and detention facilities.
As one of the principal authors of HB 9153 or “An Act Mandating all Correctional, Custodial and Detention Facilities to Implement a Contraband Detection and Control System, and Providing Penalties For Possessing, Introducing, or Aiding and Abetting the Entry of Contraband Inside Such Facilities”, Barbers stressed that 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.
“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 Contraband Detection and Control System (CDCS),” Barbers added.
Under the bill, the implementation of Contraband Detection and Control System includes the use of handled and walk-through metal detectors, X-ray scanners, K-9 units and other modern technology and devices. This will cover all correctional facilities operated and managed by the Bureau of Corrections, custodial facilities and detention facilities operated and managed by the provincial governments, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and other facilities used to detain or hold persons deprived of liberty (PDL).
