Justice secretary Leila de Lima conducted another inspection
yesterday – her third – at the maximum security compound of the state
penitentiary and relieved four more New Bilibid Prison (NBP) officials
from their posts after she was disappointed over the measly haul of
contraband.
Their relief came nine days after De Lima relieved three ranking
officials of the NBP for granting privileges to high-profile inmates.
Relieved were NBP Maximum Security Compound Guards Commander Lucio
Guevarra, NBP Special Patrol Unit chief Ricardo Sespene, NBP Inmates
Visitation Services Unit Head Roberto Mandap, and Maximum Security
Compound officer-in-charge Danilo Dador.
“I’m very disappointed because I have a gut feel that the gangs still
have in their possession several weapons and illegal drugs and that
what they surrendered are the weapons that they can no longer use,” Sec.
De Lima said after eight boxes containing contrabands were turned over
to her.
De Lima gave gang leaders until Dec. 24 to surrender all illegal
drugs, weapons and appliances otherwise their jail cells would be
raided.
The NBP provided eight empty boxes placed in four areas inside the
maximum security compound where the contrabands would be dropped.
When the boxes were opened, they contained 242 fan knives, 341
cellular phones, 23 improvised water pipes, 28 improvised tooters, eight
aluminum foils, nine lighter, four bottles, 21 long bladed weapons, 29
assorted bladed weapons, gadgets, 16 cellular phone chargers, seven
earphones, one pocket wifi, a booster antenna
firearms, one piece Shotgun – Buddy Guard Model 30 Guage 3 chamber
(Armscor), caliber 22- ERMA Serial Number 305986 with one piece
magazine, two pieces caliber 22-Black Widow, one Armscor 9mm with one
magazine, one caliber .45 colt with one magazine; one caliber .38
revolver, an UZI automatic pistol 9mm with one magazine caliber 380, 14
sets of improvised shotgun; assorted ammunitions for .22 (59 pieces),
9mm (22 pieces), .45 (11 pieces), 380 (7 pieces) and, shotgun (50
rounds).
Executive clemency
Meanwhile, Sec. De Lima revealed that President Aquino will be
granting executive clemency to inmates in time for the visit of Pope
Francis next month.
She said the executive clemency “was intended to be Pres. Aquino’s
gift for Pope Francis. We’re looking at old aged and sick, terminally
ill inmates.”
De Lima, together with joint law enforcement agencies have already
conducted two surprise raids inside the maximum security compound
confirming reports that drug convicts have been operating their drug
trade while inside prison, living like “kings” in wanton violation of
prison rules with the help of prison officials.
De Lima discovered that the privileged inmates turned their ‘kubols’
into luxurious villas, equipped with appliances, sauna, jacuzzi bath,
music equipment, and even keeping a vault where wads of cash and
expensive pieces of jewelry were kept.
Stolen gun?
Meanwhile, a barangay councilor in Caloocan City yesterday admitted
owning the gun recovered by authorities inside the room of convicted
drug lord Peter Co during the first surprise raid inside the New Bilibid
Prison.
(NBP), but denied supplying the gun to the high profile inmate.
Barangay councilor Vicente Tan Alidada, however denied supplying the
gun to Co. Alidada went to the NBI headquarters in Manila on Monday to
answer questions on how his 9mm Taurus pistol got inside the state
penitentiary.
During an interrogation, Alidada claimed that he lost his gun last
October 12, 2014 when they moved from their former residence at No. 195
Lakas ng Mahirap, Caloocan City to No. 121 Gen. San Miguel St., Caloocan
City.
He submitted to the NBI a copy of an affidavit of loss as proof that he lost his gun.
Alidada further told the NBI investigators that he wasn’t able to
report his missing firearm because he was to fly to Dubai, United Arab
Emirates (UAE) to look for a job there. He, however, returned to the
country early this month after failing to land a job in UAE.
A certification from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Firearms
and Explosives Division showed that four of the six guns confiscated
from Co belonged to different persons.
