BuCor admits New Bilibid Prison is not drug-free

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. on Thursday acknowledged that New Bilibid Prison (NBP) is not "drug-free," saying inmates have been using different ways to smuggle illegal drugs into the facility.

According to Cedric Castillo's report on "24 Oras," during the Senate hearing on the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, Catapang admitted that the leadership knew about the cover-ups of drug smuggling inside the NBP.

“'Yung condom, ipagpaumanhin nyo po, nilalagay po doon ang shabu. Tapos ilalagay po sa pwerta ng mga babae. Hindi naman po namin pwedeng kapkapan yung mga babae. Makakasuhan kami ng human rights,” he said.

“’Yung mga bata o bisita nila may dalang itlog. Iincubate doon. So after so many months mapipisa. Tapos palalakihin tuturuan yung mga kalapati maglipad-lipad paikot. Pagdating naman ng mga bisita nila, ibibigay yung kalapati. Tapos matututo na yung kalapati bumalik sa kanilang mga pugad,” he added.

The BuCor said it listed all contraband confiscated so far.

Catapang also acknowledged the problem of lax security.

In July 2023, person deprived of liberty (PDL) Michael Cataroja escaped the prison by clinging to the bottom of a garbage truck.

“Walang gumamit na salamin ang mga duty guards during that time, sinilip lang nilang ganyan,” said BuCor Deputy DG General Al Perreras.

BuCor said it is aware of the flaws that must be fixed. It is now looking into possibly filing administrative and criminal complaints against its personnel due to the incident. — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA Integrated News