A jail guard was arrested after he was allegedly caught in the act of attempting to smuggle in illegal drugs worth P200,000 to a jail cell of the Bohol District Jail (BDJ) on Thursday afternoon.

BDJ warden Chief Insp. Felipe Montejo identified the suspect as Ernesto Vistal, a 46-year-old casual government employee and a resident of Dagohoy, Inabanga.

Vistal was reportedly caught by fellow jail guard JO2 Asterio Quiño at 3:20 p.m.

“[Vistal] was being monitored by JO2 Quiño. I directed to really have this person monitored,” said the jail warden.

According to Montejo, there had already been suspicion on Vistal’s involvement in illegal drugs at the BDJ prior to the arrest.

“As I assumed office as [warden], I already received feedback on his illegal activities, and now, we were really able to get something from him,” said Montejo who took over as BDJ warden in March.

According to Montejo, a thorough investigation will be conducted to identify detainees’ means of paying for illegal drugs peddled inside the detention facility.

He also noted that there had been suspicion that other jail employees were involved in the smuggling of contraband into the jail.

“We are monitoring others. It’s not just [Vistal],” he said. “If there are others involved in illegal drugs, just stop. If you don’t, you will get caught. We are really aiming at ending this activity at the BDJ.”

Meanwhile, Vistal was placed under police custody and detained at a lock-up facility inside Camp Dagohoy in Tagbilaran City.

For his part, Gov. Edgar Chatto called for the swift resolution of Vistal’s case as he considered the incident an “affront” to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

According to Chatto, he has already directed acting Provincial Administrator John Mitchell Boiser to ensure the suspect’s dismissal from the service. (AD)