Heads will roll, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima vowed after shabu,
cash, and luxury items like Rolex watches and 48-inch TV, were
discovered inside the New Bilibid Prison’s (NBP’s) maximum security
compound during a surprise inspection yesterday.
The inspection of the prison cells was conducted by De Lima and
operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
The prison cells in the maximum prison facility house convicted drug
lords.
Among the items discovered were some 500 grams of a substance
believed to be shabu, a 48-inch TV set, Jacuzzi, Rolex watches, sound
system, musical instruments, refrigerator, PlayStation 4, and cash in
local and foreign currency.
The discovery led to the transfer of 20 convicted drug lords from the
NBP maximum facility to an undisclosed facility immediately after the
order of De Lima.
Supt. Celso Bravo, officer-in-charge of the BuCor Office of the
Assistant Director for Prison and Security, told Manila Bulletin that
they will implement the orders of the DOJ following the inspection.
Also discovered in the maximum prison were cubicles which had been
renovated and found excessive. Bravo said the prisoners’ “kubol”
(cubicles) had violated rules and will be dismantled.
Supt. Venancio Tesoro, former NBP superintendent who now heads the
Davao Prison and Penal Farm, explained the nature of the “kubol” in his
blog. “In reality, the ‘kubol’ is just an ordinary construction
arrangement, a mere contraption, which inmates took upon themselves
since the State has no funds to rebuild prison structure into cell
blocks.”
“Kubol,” he said, “is just a simple approach to translate
unsympathetic dormitory barracks into livable cells or makeshift
studios. It is just plain recognition and understanding of the
incarcerated humanity on a personal level.”
The DOJ’s surprise inspection came after the seizure of cell phone
signal boosters and other items from inmates’ dormitories two weeks ago.
As a result, the BuCor ordered the reshuffle of all prison guards to avoid familiarity with prisoners.
