Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gregorio Catapang has admitted that illegal drugs still thrive at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City despite relentless campaign by prison authorities.
Catapang bared that inmates have devised ingenious ways to smuggle the illegal drugs, such as the use of condoms or doves to transport the contrabands.
During the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights hearing on the recent escape of inmate Michael Cataroja, Catapang narrated that shabu was being stuffed in condoms, then concealed in the ‘genitals’ of female visitors.
In another case, a dove is also used to bring in shabu to the NBP, Catapang said.
Catapang narrated that a visitor or sometimes a minor, would bring a dove inside NBP where inmates would take care of the bird until it lays eggs.
Meanwhile, it will be trained to go back to its nest.
Once a visitor is allowed to take out the bird which was bred inside the NBP, it is then used to transport shabu.
Catapang conceded that illegal drugs is a persistent problem inside the penitentiary.
He said their recent inspections in detention cells yielded 200 grams of shabu amounting to P2 million.
Because of this, the BuCor chief told Sen. Francis Tolentino they need to buy equipment needed for their continuing drug operations at the NBP.
The campaign against illegal drugs, he noted, was also based on a directive by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
To enforce stricter measures, Catapang said there was only one area designated for the “E-Dalaw” wherein a visitor and an inmate can be seen on a laptop during their conversation.
Towards the end of September, charges will be filed against visitors who will be caught bringing cash inside the facility, Catapang said.
The BuCor chief lamented the problems have been existing in the NBP for 50 years.
Since then, the national penitentiary has been confronted with problems on illegal drugs, lack of facilities and personnel, and congestion, among others.
He said the NBP, built in 1973 during the administration of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., was intended for only 12,000 inmates, but now houses more than 50,000 prisoners or persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
He also divulged that of the 1,400 BuCor staff, only 10 were qualified as validated by the Civil Service Commission.
He said some of them have no ‘sense of duty’ aside from the various culture inside the penitentiary.
He also disclosed that then BuCor Chief Gerald Bantag brought with him 70 personnel from BJMP to the BuCor with the ranks of lieutenant and captain, then promoted to colonels or generals.