By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Around 200 Metro Bacolod District Jail (MBDJ) inmates were subjected to surprise drug tests yesterday morning.

According to Jail Warden Norberto Meciano, the inmates tested include high-value targets or those considered “high profile” individuals in the illegal drug trade, along with murders.

He added, testing was conducted in order to assure the public there was no drug use going on into the Barangay Handumanan facility.

Last month, a separate group of 190 “high profile” inmates, and 22 jail guards, also underwent drug testing, all of whom tested negative.

A shakedown was also carried out last week at the jail facility in Barangay Taculing, where no drugs were recovered, but several contraband items, including leather belts, spoons, barbecue sticks, and shanks, were seized./DGB, WDJ