At least 100 drug offenders detained at the Bohol District Jail (BDJ) have been released through the Supreme Court-mandated plea bargaining agreement framework, said a jail official.

According to BDJ warden Sr. Insp. Richard Tulabing, the facility has been releasing at least one inmate almost on a daily basis.

“Halos kada-adlaw man ta naay laya, kada-adlaw pud ma bag-o atong figure. Paspas kaayo ang atong laya under sa atong plea bargaining. Naka-experience mi og pito [gibuhian] agtong ni-aging adlaw,” he said.

Almost 500 BDJ detainees facing drug charges applied for a plea deal but most of the cases remained under processing.

“Mga 400 plus ang mi-avail pero increasing pa na siya kay naa may mga uban na wa pa ka-decide while ang uban maka-decide dayon,” said Tulabing.

Based on guidelines issued by the high court, suspects charged with violation of Section 11 of RA 9165, or possession of dangerous drugs, can plea bargain to a violation of Section 12, or possession of drug paraphernalia.

The amount of drugs seized from the suspects however for shabu, opium, morphine, heroin and cocaine need to be less than five grams and less than 300 grams for marijuana for them to avail of the plea deal.

Those charged with violation of Section 5 of RA 9165 which penalizes sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of all kinds of dangerous drugs are prohibited from entering a plea deal.

The release of inmates has helped in addressing congestion in detention facilities including the BDJ which has long been overcrowded.

Several inmates released through the plea deal however have been landing in jail again for drug charges.

On Wednesday, one Cloyd “King Kong” Tagab, 30, of Lila town was apprehended by police operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch in Tagbilaran City for sale and possession of illegal drugs.

He was recently released through plea bargaining. (A. Doydora)