Criminal raps filed vs New Bilibid Prisons director

MANILA, Philippines – A criminal complaint has been filed against New Bilibid Prisons Director Gaudencio Pangilinan following reports of alleged irregularities inside the national penitentiary, including prostitution and questionable purchases.

Lawyer Alan Paguia and Sandra Cam accompanied whistleblower Kabungsuan Makilala, a Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) employee and former member of the Bids and Awards Committee.

Based on his three-page complaint, Makilala accused Pangilinan of allegedly violating Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Act for allegedly approving a P16-million catering service contract without the signature of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima. The NBP is an attached agency of the Department of Justice.

Also included in Makilala’s complaint is the P1.4 million renovation contract without public bidding and the cutting of historical trees without permission from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

He added that Pangilinan also allowed VIP treatment to certain prisoners, prostitution and misappropriation of prison funds such as the purchase of some 12 mountain bikes for P25, 000 each.

Makilala also asked the DoJ to place him under the Witness Protection Program.

Pangilinan replaced Ernesto Diokno who resigned at the height of the controversy surrounding former Batangas Governor Antonio Leviste who was allegedly given special treatment.

Pangilinan has been included in the amended complaint filed by retired Army Lieutenant Colonel George Rabusa in connection with the fund anomaly inside the military. The DoJ, however, dropped him from the charge for lack of evidence.