Drone, guns, ammo seized at Bilibid dormitory

Several high-powered firearms, ammunition and a drone have been seized inside a prisoners dormitory at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

A source inside the NBP told INQUIRER.net on Friday that the guns and ammunition were hidden inside the dormitory’s common storage area and were found during a raid conducted on Thursday after a shooting incident inside the prison compound that killed former Masbate jail warden Charlie Quidatu.

The source said the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 was confiscated on Oct. 21 after prisons officials got reports that someone or some people were operating the gadget inside the prison compound.

The drone, which costs between $299 and $400, is equipped with two cameras and can be controlled by a smartphone or tablet.

In last Thursday’s raid, the source said authorities confiscated high-powered firearms including 9mm Taurus, Glock 17,  Walther P99, Springfield, two .40 cal pistol, .45 cal Raven, .45 cal Colt and two 9 mm Browning.

NBP authorities also seized 350 rounds of ammunitions for various firearms.

Also seized was a vault which contained 11 necklaces and seven rings made of gold and precious stones.

The raid also yielded various bladed weapons, two indoor antenna signal boosters, two refrigerators, and a list containing transactions believed to be for illegal drugs, the source said.

Quidatu was shot to death by fellow inmate Ronald Catapang inside NBP’s Maximum Security Compound.

Catapang claimed Quidatu wanted him to throw a grenade at the jury (elders) members of the Commando Gang who were having a meeting but he refused. They had a fight and he shot Quidatu.

Quidatu suffered two gunshot wounds, one in the chest.

Aside from the .357 magnum used by Catapang against Quidatu, authorities also recovered an MK4 fragmentation grenade.

Early this year, a series of raids were conducted inside NBP where various firearms, explosives, gadgets, and appliances were confiscated.

This prompted NBP authorities to segregate detained drug lords inside Building 14 to stop the illegal transactions and smuggling of various items inside the penitentiary.