THREE of the five inmates present during the second day of the congressional probe into the illegal drug trade inside the national penitentiary recommended the reforms that may be instituted at the New Bilibid Prison (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 Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), which are in-charge of running the affairs of the NBP.
"Kailangan ng competent na mamumuno sa Bucor para talagang magawa niya ang kaniyang tungkulin," Trestiza said.
According to Trestiza, they need competent leaders in the department for the reformation of the inmates.
"Hindi po naman necessary na magkaron pa ng sumbungan. Tamang tao sa DOJ, tamang tao sa Bucor para ang reformation program ay talagang maibigay samin," he said.
The congressmen laughed when the inmate quipped: "Kung maari sila muna ang ireform, bago po kami."
Jojo Baligad, a convicted murderer detained at NBP for 15 years, agreed with Trestiza.
But the inmate added another wish to the legislators.
"Pag walang conjugal [visits] nabuburyong ang mga preso, kung anu-ano naiisip nila gawin...Importante ang conjugal sa mga preso sir," he said.
Inmate Noel Martinez said the NBP needs a God-fearing leader to rid the national penitentiary of corruption.
"Tamang tao na may takot sa Diyos para iwas sa korupsyon... Kung mawawala ang korupsyon, mawawala ang droga, mababago rin siguro ang bilibid," Martinez said.
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. They are also willing to testify before the court when the case against De Lima and other Bucor officials are already filed. (Sunnex)