Aklan SP to probe jail guard, inmate buy-bust involvement

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

A Sangguniang Panlalawigan member wants to investigate the alleged involvement of a female jail guard and inmate of Aklan provincial jail in a buy-bust operation.

photo Rodnel Aguirre

SP member Nemesio Neron, committee chairperson of the peace and order, called for a legislative inquiry after a police operation netted jail guard Clary Mel Melgarejo and inmate Rona Espino near the jail facility in Sitio Ilawod, Barangay Nalook in Kalibo, Aklan on November 5.

The drug suspects were riding a motorcycle when operatives arrested them. They faced charges for violation of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for yielding two sachets of suspected shabu.

Jail facility officials were also under fire for allowing the female inmate to venture outside the Aklan Rehabilitation Center (ARC). 

“Being a retiree in military and police service, it is my advocacy in life to stop the use and proliferation of illegal drugs in the communities, particularly in Aklan. I was saddened by the uncalled police buy-bust entrapment operation,” said Neron, a former Aklan police provincial director.

An investigating committee was formed by the Office of the Provincial Governor directing the Provincial Administrator to find out the ‘real score’ of the police operation.

“The SP is also mandated to do something to support the efforts to get rid of illegal drugs, hence, this request for a legislative inquiry,” Neron stressed.

Aklan board member Emmanuel Soviet Russia Dela Cruz, however, wants to defer the legislative inquiry pending the recommendations or conclusion of investigation of the committee.

“We could wait for the executive branch investigation to conclude before we could pass or recommend legislative measures,” he added.

SP member Jay Tejada also stressed “it is premature for SP to conduct a legislative inquiry, considering the investigating committee has yet to finish the investigation.”