BuCor dismantles nearly 3,000 Bilibid cubicles

Nearly 3,000 cubicles or "kubols" were demolished inside the New Bilibid Prison's (NBP) maximum security compound to improve and tighten security, according to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

According to Saleema Refran's Tuesday report on "24 Oras," the demolition was part of the BuCor's "Oplan Kaayusan."

The walls were dismantled, making the area visible to the watchers.

"Monitored na. Kitang kita na sila. And hindi na sila pwedeng gumawa ng mga illegal activities, nagsusugal o illegal trading, illegal drugs or whatever," said BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr.

(Now they're monitored. They're fully visible. And can't run illegal activities, gambling or illegal trading, illegal drugs or whatever.)

However, despite the transfer of the high-profile inmates and Chinese drug lords to the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro, other inmates have taken over the cubicles.

"Yung parang nagkaroon pa ng privileges yung mga mayores. Magaganda yung kanilang kubol. Sariling cellphone, sariling router. Sariling tv, sariling parang aircooler. Kanya-kanya silang tago," said Catapang.

(It's like the "mayores" still have privileges. They have comfortable cubicles, cellphones, routers, TVs, aircoolers. Each one has a hidden stash.)

Meanwhile, Oplan Greyhound or the search for contraband in the New Bilibid Prison will continue, BuCor added. — Sherylin Untalan/DVM, GMA Integrated News