NCRPO blames ‘warning’ for low contraband yield during NBP surprise check

MANILA, Philippines — Inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) were allegedly alerted and warned about a surprise inspection by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) that they were able to hide their contraband.

This was the reason cited by NCRPO acting chief Debold Sinas on Tuesday for the low yield of illegal drugs and cellphones that were confiscated from NBP inmates during the surprise inspection.

Personnel from the NCRPO and the Bureau of Corrections conducted the inspection dubbed “Oplan Cerberus” at the NBP’s Quadrants 2 and 3 on Monday, Feb. 3.

The operation resulted in the seizure of  575 assorted electronic gadgets; 1,884 various appliances; 162 casino chips and playing cards; 35 sex toys; assorted deadly weapons; 11 bottles of liquor; cash amounting to more than P26,000; and suspected illegal drugs.

Also seized were rusty nails,  metal pipes, bottles filled with gasoline, hand tools, and jewelry.

Sinas said the operation was not able to seize the expected cache of illegal drugs and cellphones with only seven cellphones confiscated from the inmates.

“Kaunti lang talaga ‘yung nahuli. We have series of reports that they ([nmates] were alerted [of the inspection] but it’s a good learning experience sa amin. Ibig sabihin, yung security plan namin ay nabulgar,” Sinas said in a press conference at the Quezon City Police Kamuning Police Station 10.

(We only confiscated a few. We have reports that they ([nmates] were alerted [of the inspection] but it’s a good learning experience for us. This means that our security plan was known to them.)

“Before naplano, alam na nila, we were also informed pero tinuloy pa rin namin,” he added.

(We were also informed that the inmates were aware of the inspection even as we were planning it.  But we still pushed through with it.)

Sinas said the operation aimed to confiscate cell phones as these are instrumental in the reported illegal drug transactions being done inside the national penitentiary.

“Kapag may transaction ng drugs, may nagpa-facilitate doon sa loob kaya ang target talaga sana namin doon ay yung cellphones,” the police official said.

(When there is a transaction on illegal drugs, there is someone facilitating it from the inside. So we were after the cellphones.)

The seized cell phones will be turned over to the custody of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group for forensic investigation, Sinas said.

Sinas said that they are have started looking for the source of the leak.

“Nag-iimbestiga na kami. (We are investigating) We are verifying it,” he said.

Edited by MUF