De Lima announces major shake-up at New Bilibid Prison

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima announced Tuesday a major reshuffle of personnel at the New Bilibid Prison in the wake of the grenade throwing incident last Friday and confiscation of drug materials after a surprise visit at the NBP last Monday.

Aside from designating a new Bureau of Corrections Officer in charge, De Lima issued Department Order 982 dated Nov. 20 appointing new officers of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Based on the Department Order, De Lima designated Superintendent Guillermo Ayala, currently Superintendent of Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm as OIC Chief Superintendent of the NBP, replacing Superintendent Ramon Reyes.

De Lima also designated PIS Josie B. Bayawa of the BuCor Legal Office to be the new OIC-Superintendent of the NBP Maximum Security Compound, replacing Roberto Rabo.

PIS Celso S. Bravo, NBP Assistant Superintendent is now the OIC-Superintendent of the Medium Security Compound, replacing Dante Cruz who has been transferred to Iwahig Prison to take over the post vacated by Ayala.

Other changes include:

         PSOI Alfredo A. Devaras of the BuCor Reservation Support Service is now OIC-Superintendent of the Minimum Security Compound, replacing Gerardo Aro;

         PSOI Roberto A. Veneracion is now the OIC-Chief Overseer of the NBP Maximum Security Compound, replacing Francisco Satorre;

         PIS Fajardo D. Lansangan is the OIC-Commander of the Guards of the NBP Maximum Security Compound, replacing PSOI Robert Mandap;

         PGI Robert S. Jarabe is the new OIC-Commander of the Guards of the NBP Medium Security Compound, replacing PSOI Robert Veneracion;

         PGI Sandy C. Marquez is the new OIC-Commander of the Guards of the NBP Minimum Security Compound, replacing PG3 Artemio M. Martin;

         PGI Lucio C. Guevarra is the OIC-Commander of the Guards of the NBP Reception and Diagnostic Center, replacing PG3 Ramon Mandap;

         PSOI Roberto O. Mandap, the Commander of the Guards of the NBP Maximum Security Compound, is now the OIC-Chief of the BuCor Reservation Support Service, replacing PSOI Alfredo Devaras;

         Supt. Antonio Cruz, currently the Acting Chief of the Administration Division of the BuCor, was designated OIC of the BuCor Office of the Asst. Director for Prisons and Security Operations;

         Dr. Gloria A. Garcia (Medical Officer IV), currently Chief of Clinics, is now the OIC-Chief, NBP Hospital and Medical and Dental Division, replacing Dr. Ernesto L. Tamayo.

De Lima ordered a reshuffle after a surprise visit at the NBP Monday yielded drug paraphernalia, bladed weapons and mobile phones.

A surprise inspection was conducted following a blast last Friday that injured six inmates.

Viewed from the CCTV footage showed that the blast was perpetrated by an inmate who was targeting another inmate who was jogging at that time. The grenade thrower was wearing an orange prison shirt and knee high denim shorts. He covered his head to avoid being identified.