ABANG Lingkod party-list Representative Stephen Paduano pushed for the total overhaul of the officials and personnel of the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) and the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) amid the illegal drug trade activities inside the jail.
Paduano said he is also supportive of the proposals to separate high-value inmates from ordinary inmates or isolate them in a secluded island.
“It has been proven that illegal drug business has been going on inside the NBP and that some drug supplies even are sourced from there,” the Negrense lawmaker pointed out.
He added that the House committee on justice has already submitted its report to the plenary about their investigation on the illegal drug trade at NBP and that some corrective measures have already been done.
After the testimony of Ronnie Dayan, former driver-body guard of Senator Leila De Lima, the committee will make a supplemental report.
“It would be the Department of Justice that will prosecute those who are facing charges for the illegal drug trade at NBP. The congressman cannot put them in prison,” Paduano said.
The committee made the report based on the testimonies of high-profile inmates at NBP, he added.
Three inmates who testified in the congressional probe had recommended the reforms that may be instituted at the NBP in Muntinlupa City.
Froilan Trestiza, a detainee at the NBP from 2007 to 2013 but is now detained at Zamboanga Penal Colony, said a competent leader must be assigned to the Bucor and the Department of Justice, which are in-charge of running the affairs of the NBP.
Trestiza said they need competent leaders in the department for the reformation of the inmates.
Jojo Baligad, a convicted murderer detained at NBP for 15 years, agreed with Trestizam, adding that conjugal visits should be allowed.
Inmate Noel Martinez said the NBP needs a God-fearing leader to rid the national penitentiary of corruption.
According to the inmates, they testified before the House committee on justice probe to help in the investigation and implicate the perpetrators of drug trade and the officials responsible for drug proliferation inside NBP.
They clarified that they are not asking for favor or anything in return for their testimony. (TDE)