JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Friday directed Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald dela Rosa to destroy the illegal drug machinery inside the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City
Dela Rosa, who has the rank of undersecretary, took his oath as BuCor chief at the Department of Justice Friday.
The BuCor is one of the attached agencies of the DoJ, along with the National Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Immigration.
“I only have one instruction in mind for him. The penitentiary is known as a lair for illegal drug operations… My marching order is to destroy whatever machinery is there in the penitentiary pertaining to the manufacture and trade of drugs,” Guevarra said.
Dela Rosa, for his part, said a bigger budget could solve the problems in the state penitentiary.
Dela Rosa, formerly the chief of the Philippine National Police, said he spent his first five days as BuCor chief studying, assessing and evaluating the situation in the NBP.
He said if the BuCor was given a bigger budget, he would push through with the construction of new prison facilities in the regions, as well as the repair of old facilities.
“Actually, the solution to all the problems is budget, a bigger budget.just give me time, I will institute reforms,” Dela Rosa, also known for his nickname “Bato,” said.
“Without a good facility, you cannot institute good reforms. And the facility takes time to be built and there is a need for huge amount of money,” he aded.
The BuCor chief also proposed the segregation of convicted foreign drug lords and local drug lords to cut the supply and demand of illegal drugs in the state penitentiary.
Meanwhile, Guevarra said he would make sure that all necessary support from the DoJ would be given to the Bucor.
He said he would have a more personal approach in supervising the BuCor under the leadership of Dela Rosa.
He added putting an end to the illegal drug trade in the NBP was one of the problems President Rodrigo Duterte told him to put special attention on.
“The problem of illegal drugs is not just found outside, but also inside the national penitentiary, that’s why I have to take a more hands on approach in supporting the efforts of the Bucor in wiping out illegal drugs in the penitentiary,” Guevarra said.