(UPDATED) - The Philippine National Police (PNP) reshuffled anew on Tuesday, February 6, the Special Action Force (SAF) troopers assigned at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) to avoid familiarity with the inmates.
PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa and newly installed SAF director Noli Taliño led the turnover ceremony of the 300 SAF men at the NBP. The new batch, which will be led by Chief Inspector Christopher Mendoza, is composed of men who were among those who took part in the Marawi operations.
This is the fourth revamp undertaken by the PNP at the national penitentiary since President Rodrigo Duterte tapped them in July 2016 following the discovery of illegal activities, particularly of the convicted drug lords even while in detention.
The SAF members are assigned to guard the NBP’s Maximum Security Compound as well as the Building 14, which houses the high-profile inmates and convicted drug lords.
Dela Rosa, however, said the SAF men should also be deployed at the Medium Security Compound amid reports that the illegal drugs trade has spilled over from the Maximum Security Compound.
“Controlled na ang maximum compound at Building 14. Ngayon may nagsasabi na lumipat sa medium compound ‘yung drug trade. We should hit where the problem is,” said Dela Rosa.
"I strongly recommend sa Bureau of Corrections and SAF na pati medium compound bantayan,” he added.
Earlier, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said the illegal drugs trade inside the NBP continues despite having SAF as security detail.
PDEA also said the illegal trade is already taking place even at the Medium Security Compound.
“To address that issue, I strongly recommend to the management of the (Bureau of Corrections) and to the director of SAF na pati ‘yung medium security i-cover ng SAF. And kung mayroon na namang another issue na ang drug transaction nasa minimum compound, then pati minimum i-cover na natin,” he said, adding he wanted it to be implemented as soon as possible.
He said he wanted to have an additional of at least 100 SAF troopers in the Medium Security Compound, which houses 6,000 inmates.
Meanwhile, Taliño congratulated the outgoing SAF troopers and reminded his incoming men of the temptation they may possibly face while guarding the national penitentiary.
“(You) have an enormous, demanding and challenging responsibility. It also demands the highest degree of professionalism and dedication to service as there is no room for leniency and inaccuracy especially knowing that you will be mingling with criminals in the penitentiary,” he said.
“Never allow yourself to be tempted and to go astray,” he added.
Taliño said the syndicates in the NBP will do everything to destroy their dignity and principle but reminded that it will just be temporary while being a police with salary increase is lifetime. (SunStar Philippines)