Palace calls Bilibid ‘luxuries’ unacceptable

The New Bilibid Prison. INQUIRER file photo.

MANILA, Philippines – “Those things should never have been there in the first place,” Malacañang on Wednesday said of the luxurious amenities and illegal items found inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

“The conditions that we found in the Bilibid [are] really unacceptable,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told Palace reporters.

While he does not have specific information on what the Department of Justice (DOJ) plans to do with the firearms found, he assured the public that the government is addressing the issue.

“The existence of all these contraband are not allowed in the first place; and, therefore, Secretary Leila de Lima is going to undertake all measures and ensure that these things should not happen again,” Lacierda explained.

A raid of the NBP compound on Monday revealed living quarters that are comparable to high-end condominium units. Some of the spaces assigned to convicts inside the penitentiary had wide-screen television sets and Wi-Fi. A sauna and a jacuzzi was also discovered, in addition to substances believed to be “shabu” or (methamphetamine hydrochloride).

One convicted drug lord had P1.4 million in cash, money-counting machines and five firearms.

Malacañang earlier said it aims to stop all illegal activities inside the national penitentiary.

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