To strengthen its campaign against the smuggling of contraband, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) will deploy K9 dogs inside the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
BuCor officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang Jr. said that “dogs won’t lie,” but expressed misgivings that their handlers might be corrupted.
Aside from illegal drugs, K9 or so-called “police dogs” can also smell mobile phones and electronic devices. The BuCor also currently deploys bomb-sniffing dogs.
Earlier, the BuCor seized 70,000 cans of beer and other smuggled contraband inside the NBP. The BuCor said 55 of its personnel who were assigned to the NBP in connection with the incident are now being investigated.
Senator Raffy Tulfo meanwhile called for a top-to-bottom investigation of BuCor personnel and their offices to find out how contraband items, which are among the root causes of many crimes involving inmates are persistently being smuggled into the NBP.
Tulfo made the statement upon learning from the sister of NBP inmate Jun Villamor, the dead middleman in the slaying of broadcaster Percy Lapid, that her brother had access to a mobile device while in prison.
Tulfo said by preventing the entry of contraband items, especially cellphones which are used to communicate with the outside world, killings and other crimes could be prevented.
He said aside from regular inspections on inmates, the BuCor should also conduct searches on the offices of BuCor staff.
Tulfo also said the agency should conduct lifestyle checks. It may ba r called that during his previous interview with Villamor’s sister, alias “Ate,” on his program “Wanted sa Radyo,” she confirmed that her brother’s mobile device was bought for P10,000 from a person inside the prison.
As early as 2019, then Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) chief Aaron Aquino divulged that some unscrupulous BuCor officials and personnel allow inmates to possess cellphones at a high cost.
Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano has also confirmed on Tulfo’s program that the smuggling of contrabands like cellphones are still prevalent at the NBP.