NEWLY-installed Bureau of Corrections director Ronald dela Rosa conducted on Wednesday, May 9, an inspection at the Intelligence Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) detention cell in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, where several high-profile inmates are being detained.
Dela Rosa said he just wanted to make sure that as they impose a stricter rule particularly to stop the illegal drugs transaction inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City, all their detainees will comply and stop their illegal drugs activities.
“Iniisip ko masyado kaming maghihigpit sa Bilibid lahat hihigpitan namin ‘yung building 14, maximum at medium (security compound) baka mamaya wala nang magiging transaction sa droga doon, baka mamaya dito sila magta-transact dahil mamaya isipin nila na they have the privilege being a state witness baka sabihin nila may utang na loob kasi sa kanila na pwede sila magtuloy-tuloy sa drug transaction kaya siniguro ko at pinuntahan ko dito,” he said.
“Pero sa nakikita ko mukhang malabo sila makapag-transact dito, dahil unang-una ‘yung gwardiya dito mahirap i-corrupt. I’m satisfied, alam ko mahihirapan silang dumiskarte ditto,” he added.
(I'm satisfied. I have seen that it is difficult to conduct illegal drugs transactions here. The guard could not be easily corrupted.)
Among the inmates being held at the ISAFP detention cell are Herbert Colangco, Robert Durano, Jerry Pipino, Noel Martinez, Gernan Agojo, Jaime Patio, Thomas Donina and Rodolfo Magleo.
In a television interview, Dela Rosa said he noted two major problems at the NBP since he took office on Monday, May 7 — congestion and accessibility.
Dela Rosa said an access road in the perimeter of the NBP was made accessible to the public after the National Housing Authority constructed a resettlement area there.
He said residents in the resettlement area are conniving with the inmates inside by throwing black trash bags containing illegal contrabands such as cigarettes and cellphones.
"Ang perimeter niya ginawang kalsada. Ang purpose niyan ay just in case may tumalon at mag-eskapo, may access road mga guard. Ginawan ng National Housing Authority ng malaking community sa likuran na part ng BuCor reservation, ang kalsada naging accessible sa sibilyan," he said.
He said another problem they identified was the NBP’s mess hall which is easily accessed by its concessionaire’s workers.
Dela Rosa said having access to the mess hall which leads to the NBP compound including the maximum security compound, inmates may connive with the concessionaire’s workers for their supply of illegal contrabands in exchange for payola.
He said among the solutions which can possibly provide long-term solution to such problems is to increase the annual budget allocated for the bureau.
Dela Rosa said he will also push for the proposed transfer of several inmates at the mega-prison facility in Fort Magsaysay Nueva Ecija in order to decongest the NBP which is already overpopulated by 300 percent.
However, for now, Dela Rosa said he will work on instilling discipline among the inmates at the NBP to make sure that they will no longer continue their illegal drugs transaction inside the facility. (SunStar Philippines)