NCRPO recalls personnel in Bilibid for contraband smuggling issue

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Wednesday recalled its personnel stationed in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) after some of its members were caught smuggling inside the premises of the national penitentiary.

NCRPO chief Brid Gen. Debold Sinas said that he will talk to Bureau of Correction (BuCor) officials about the issue, and will ask BuCor head Gerald Bantag if he wishes to still have NCRPO personnel inside the NBP, Radyo Inquirer reported.

In a text message to reporters, BuCor spokeswoman Wena Fe Dalagan said that the NCRPO personnel will be replaced by members of the Regional Public Safety Battalion of the Philippine National Police.

“The replacement will be done by batch,” Dalagan said, adding that this was agreed upon by both Bantag and Siñas.

The recall comes after 16 NCRPO personnel were found to have smuggled contraband particularly liquor, gadgets, and tobacco leaves inside the national penitentiary.

READ: NCRPO probes 16 cops nabbed for smuggling contraband inside NBP

The BuCor spokeswoman said that besides addressing the incident, the recall was also a way to” prevent familiarization” in the NBP. /je