Aquino cancels ‘surprise visit’ to New Bilibid Prisons

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) President Benigno Aquino III cancelled his supposed surprise visit to the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) Maximum Security Compound Wednesday because he was not feeling well, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said.

“We do not know the extent of his plan (on what to inspect inside the National Penitentiary). He will probably visit a building and check the facilities,” De Lima said.

Meanwhile, Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that Aquino cancelled what was to have been a surprise visit to the NBP in Muntilupa City because “the element of surprise was negated” after word of the visit leaked out.

“As far as I know, that is a valid way of putting it,” Lacierda said during Wednesday’s regular news briefing in Malacañang.

Lacierda said there were arrangements between Malacañang and the Department of Justice to secure the area for the President’s visit while keeping the information from prison officials.

“It might have leaked out somewhere,” Lacierda said.

Inmates of the NBP have been placed in one building while the rest of the facility has been emptied for the President’s supposed surprise visit.