(CNN Philippines) – Detention cells in a Zamboanga police station are congested with drug offenders now due to the continuous operations being conducted by police.
So congested are the cells, in fact, that some of the inmates are sleeping on hammocks hanged practically just inches above the other detainees in order to maximize the cell floor for sleeping during nighttime.
Zamboanga City’s Police Office (ZCPO) Station 11 has a total of three detention cells that can accommodate ten persons per cell. Two of the cells are for men while the other one is reserved for female detainees.
Station 11 Investigator Basier Lutian, however, said that the cells became congested since the city implemented its all-out drive against illegal drugs.
Sr. Supt. Angelito Casimiro, Zambo police chief, has ordered his men to conduct at least four drug-related arrests per week, resulting to influx of inmates – majority of them are detained in connection with illegal drug arrests.
Twenty-five of the 33 inmates detained last week, in fact, were drug-related offenses.
To solve the congestion problem, Lutian said some of the detainees will be transferred to other stations that can accommodate additional inmates.
