New Bilibid Prison FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Tuesday ordered an investigation into reports that convicted shabu flea-market operator Amin Imam Boratong owned a two-story house inside the New Bilibid Prison compound in Muntinlupa City.
The Justice Chief said she has already ordered Bureau of Corrections Director Franklin Bucayu to investigate the matter and submit to her office the results of the probe as soon as possible.
“Kahapon ko nabasa yan. Bago lang yan. Kasi right now, we are really taking things, taking certain operations, addressing yang mga illegal entry ng mga contrabands, mga communication gadgets and the drugs trade within the NBP,” De Lima said.
“Nakasentro kami doon. Now may mga ganyang reports, allegedly may ganyan, may two-story na ganyan so pinapaimbestiga ko na and I told Director Bucayu that I want to see the report on that right away para I can act accordingly,” De Lima said.
Boratong was convicted in 2009 for maintaining a shabu tiangge (flea market) in Pasig City. He is currently serving life imprisonment.
Boratong reportedly built a house complete with airconditioning unit beside the NBP’s chapel.
Aside from Boratong, De Lima also ordered Bucayu to investigate reports that another inmate convicted of illegal drug charges has managed to build a swimming pool at the back of the NBP compound.
“Talaga namang we recognize the problems within Bucor. And all these years, kung sino man yung nauupong director, sa tingin ko ginagawa naman nila yung kaya nila para ma-address yun pero it’s more of a systemic problem. That’s why we are really looking forward doon sa implementing rules and regulations ng Bucor Modernization Law,” she said.