Faeldon told: Bilibid drug trade is top priority

Newly appointed Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Nicanor Faeldon’s top priority is the current drug trade inside the national penitentiary, Justice Undersecretary and spokesperson for the Department of Justice (DOJ) Markk Perete.

Faeldon took his oath before Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday after his appointment paper was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last Monday.

READ: LOOK: Faeldon takes oath of office as new Bureau of Corrections head

READ: Duterte officially appoints Faeldon as BuCor chief

“The oath proceeded as required by law. Soon after, the Director and the Secretary of Justice informed the Director [Faeldon] of priorities that should be addressed in the management of BuCor,” Perete told reporters.

He said the top three issues that should be addressed are the drug trade inside the penitentiary, the inmate population congestion, and the transfer of a portion of the penal facility to another locality.

BuCor is an attached agency of the DOJ. As head of the agency,, Faeldon will man seven operating prison units: the Abuyog Penal Colony in Leyte, Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro, San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City, the New Bilibid Prison, and the Davao Prison and Penal Farm.

Bilibid is the most controversial of the seven facilities after President Duterte tagged it as the source of 70 percent of illegal drugs circulating in the country. Several raids have been conducted, but authorities continue to confiscate gadgets, narcotics and even firearms inside the facility.

Senator Leila De Lima has been detained for allegedly benefitting from the illegal drug trade.

Bilibid, which has a capacity of 10,072 inmates, is currently hosting about 27, 071 prisoners or  170 percent over capacity. Nationwide, overcapacity at BuCor facilities is estimated to be at 30 percent. /ee