De Lima orders probe on NBI, Bucor personnel on smuggled P700k by Bilibid VIPs

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines ―Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Sunday said that she will subject the personnel of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) under investigation after an inspection last Monday yielded P700,000 in cash which was brought by the “very important prisoners” from their cells in the New Bilibid Prison to their new detention facility inside the NBI headquarters.

In a text message sent to INQUIRER.net, De Lima said that the “security lapse” might have happened over the long holiday break.

She is also looking into the possibility that the high-profile convicts from Bilibid have been conspiring with detainees in the NBI Detention Facility.

“We will wait first for the results of the ongoing probe into that security lapse. The probe is spearheaded by Attorney Rommel Vallejo of NBI-AOTCD (NBI-Anti Organized and Transnational Crime Division). I want to know when (most probably during the long holiday break) and how it could have happened and who are involved- either or both NBI and BuCor personnel assigned at the NBP Extension Facility at NBI, and possibly even regular detainees at the NBI Detention Facility itself,” De Lima said.

During the said inspection, wads of P1,000 and P500 have been found in garbage bags and toilet tanks in their new cell along with four mobile phones.

The money belongs to convicted bank robber Herbert Colangco and drug convicts Imam Boratong, Michael Ong and Vicente Sy.
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