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MANILA, Philippines–Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Tuesday ordered an investigation into reports that convicted drug lord Amin Boratong had a two-story house built inside the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) reservation in Muntinlupa City.
“No inmate should be that privileged and allowed to own a house,” De Lima told reporters in an interview at the Philippine International Convention Center, where she was guest speaker at the 1st Annual National Competition Conference.
The conference was a government-sponsored forum aimed at combating cartels and monopolistic behavior.
If the allegations are confirmed, De Lima said, “Heads must roll, [especially of] those who are responsible, who allowed it to happen.”
She said that after reading about the reports, she ordered Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Franklin Bucayu to conduct an investigation.
“I told Director Bucayu that I want to see the report on that right away, so I can act accordingly.”
Newly built house
The reports said that Boratong, convicted in 2006 for maintaining a “shabu tiangge” in Pasig City, was staying in a newly built two-story house beside the NBP chapel.
Boratong is supposed to serve his term in the NBP’s maximum security compound.
Another inmate, also a convicted drug trafficker and identified only as Sebastian, reportedly had a swimming pool built at the back of the NBP compound.
De Lima said the initial report she got was that there was no such swimming pool.
She said BuCor and NBP officials were focused on the operation to make sure that communications gadgets, illegal drugs and other contraband would not enter the penitentiary.
She said the reshuffle of prison guards started a few days ago following reports some of them had been bribed or threatened by drug convicts intent on continuing their illicit trade behind bars.
De Lima said she believed Bucayu and the other officials were doing their best to address what she called “perennial problems” in the prison.
“Those who have sat as BuCor director, I think, did their best to address these problems, which are more systemic [in nature]. They have been there for so long,” she said.
The secretary said the government was pinning its hopes on the reforms that would come about once the implementing rules and guidelines of Republic Act No. 10575, or the BuCor Act of 2013, were issued.