Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Friday gave leaders of jail house gangs until Christmas Eve to surrender all illegal and prohibited items inside the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
“Before Christmas, they should produce the contrabands because we believe there are still illegal drugs and items kept hidden by other inmates. I told them to produce that, otherwise I will really undertake a complete shakedown again (in the NBP) and we will turn the facility outside down,” De Lima said.
The justice secretary issued the warning following information that some jail officers attempted to mislead authorities from finding the items smuggled inside the national penitentiary.
De Lima led a second wave of raid Friday morning inside Bilibid to recover more smuggled items and check if the kubols have been dismantled.
She also met with the jail leaders and told them why the raids were conducted.
The President was alarmed by what was recovered inside the state prison, De Lima said.
So as not to resort to drastic action, De Lima said cooperation is vital.
RELATED STORIES
Congressman, other politicians own guns in New Bilibid Prison
Bilibid VIPs tipped off on raid