Bureau of Corrections
Two jail guards were arrested after Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) uncovered a bribery racket involving several of its personnel, including the chief of its armory, who demanded money in exchange for the expedited release of firearms to corrections officers. First to fall during an entrapment operation by BuCor and Muntinlupa police on Thursday was CO1 Arnel Jamero, 42, who was arrested right outside the gates of New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City. Prior to his arrest, Jamero asked for P6,500 from the victim, CO1 Marvin Asoy, in exchange for the release of his service firearm from the BuCor Armory. Upon interrogation, Jamero claimed he would just turn over the money to CSO2 Henry Escrupolo, 54, the head of the NBP’s escorting unit, who was later arrested at Camp Bukang Liwayway, inside NBP. BuCor personnel later found on Escrupolo’s phone that he was exchanging text messages with Corrections Senior Insp. Alex Hizola, chief of BuCor Armory, about the illegal transactions.