DOJ orders BuCor to probe NBP personnel in entry of contraband
Justice Secretary Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa on Tuesday ordered Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Ricardo Rainier Cruz III to conduct an investigation on the involvement of personnel from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in the entry of contraband inside the facility.
Caguioa issued the order following the confiscation of a drone along with a stash of guns, ammunition, bladed weapons, cash, and jewelry during a raid on Thursday, shortly after inmate Charlie Quidato was shot dead by another prisoner inside NBP’s maximum security compound.
READ: Gang leader shot to death by fellow inmate inside Bilibid
In a statement, Caguioa directed Cruz to determine the possible criminal and administrative liability of the prison personnel.
A Parrot AR Drone 2.0 was discovered inside the storage area of a dormitory on Oct. 21. The confiscated drone is equipped with two cameras and can be controlled by a smartphone or tablet. Based on Internet sources, the gadget could cost from $299 to $400.
READ: Drone, guns seized in Bilibid
Apart from the .357 Magnum used to kill Quidato, authorities also recovered an MK4 fragmentation grenade on Oct. 22.
The NBP authorities also seized two 9mm Browning pistols, a 9-mm Taurus pistol, a 9-mm Vizor, a 9-mm Llama, a .380 Bersa Thunder, a 40-cal. Glock 17, a .40-cal. Bersa Thunder, a .45-cal, Ranger, a .45-cal. Norinco, and a .45-cal. Colt.
Prison authorities also seized 350 rounds of ammunitions for various firearms, various bladed weapons, two indoor antenna signal boosters, and two refrigerators.
They also got hold of a safe containing 11 necklaces and seven rings made of gold and precious stones, a bank checkbook, P4,000 in cash made up of P20 bills, a list of numbers with the word “grams” on it, and another list of numerical entries dating back to 2014 inside Quidato’s room.
At the same time, Caguioa also ordered Cruz to conduct an investigation surrounding the death of Quidato.
The 55-year-old Quidato, a life-term prisoner committed to the NBP in 2011, died of two gunshot wounds in the chest. Fellow Commando Gang member Ronald Catapang confessed to the killing. Tetch Torres-Tupas/RC
