DOJ links Bilibid blast to illegal drug trade inside prison

Published January 9, 2015 9:11pm

The Justice Department firmly believes the explosion at the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison on Wednesday is related to the illegal drug trade there.

In a report on GMA's “24-Oras” program aired Friday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said it is highly likely that the incident was due to warring gangs inside the prison.

“Pakana yan ng kung sino man o ilan man doon sa mga nandiyan ngayon sa NBP extension facility sa NBI. Naramdaman nila yung matinding epekto sa kanila doon sa gawain nila kasi naputol yung mga transaksyon nila, therefore, naputol 'yung source of income,” De Lima said.

The explosion resulted in one death and 19 others injured. All casualties were part of the Commando gang headed by JB Sebastian who was supposedly the target of the blast.

Authorities have pinpointed the suspect who threw the grenade but they declined to give details.

According to New Bilibid prison chief J/Sr. Supt. Richard Schwarzkopf Jr., they are withholding information for security purposes.

“Siyempre may mga iniiwasan lang din dito. Alam mo na gangs yan na baka nagtestigo 'yung isa siyempre andoon 'yung takot kahit sabihin nating walang tatak yan andoon parin yung takot,” Schwarzkopf said.

He also said 12 NBP gang leaders will be transferred to the medium security camp since they failed to produce the suspect after De Lima gave a two-hour ultimatum.

“It is not like a bartolina or a disciplinary cell before. 'Yung nasa madilim na lugar, nandoon na 'yung CR mo tapos madilim. Hindi na ganoon ang disciplinary cell. Ang disciplinary cell naka isolate ka lang doon. It is a common dormitory din,” Schwarzkopf said.

The explosion is the latest development in a series of raids that found high-profile inmates with contraband items and living a relatively luxurious lifestyle behind bars. — Andrei Medina/JDS, GMA News

Tags: newbilibidprison, newbilibidprisonexplosion, illegaldrugtrade