MANILA, Philippines – Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Nicanor Faeldon cancelled the visiting privileges of inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) and its six other operating units nationwide after the Philippine National Police (PNP) discovered that a Bilibid inmate is running a drug operation in Cebu via the Internet.
“I believe that DG Faeldon had good reasons for its immediate implementation. I also believe that these measures are temporary in character, as the BuCor intensifies its campaign to rid our prison facilities of illegal drug activities,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Wednesday.
BuCor is an attached agency of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Faeldon issued the cancellation order Tuesday after a command conference.
The cancellation has affected over 40,000 Bilibid inmates and other inmates from 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 and the Davao Prison and Penal Farm.
On Wednesday, Faeldon again met with gang leaders inside the NBP.
He first met the gang leaders when he assumed office last year.
The gang leaders have promised to cooperate with the authorities by reporting illegal activities inside the facility.
Guevarra earlier ordered BuCor and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the operations of drug rings inside the NBP after police in Cebu discovered that a drug ring operating in the province is being run by Rustico Ygot, an inmate at the national penitentiary.
The Cebu police found out that the source of the 28 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu valued at more than P190 million that were seized in operations in Cebu City and in Consolacion town last March 3 were all traced to one Jocelyn Encila, the girlfriend of Ygot who is serving jail time at the NBP on illegal drugs charges.
Police discovered that Ygot has access to the Internet even inside the NBP, allowing him to run his drug operation and relay orders to Encila. / gsg