PNP exec: Smuggled phones in Bilibid used for Tsinoys’ kidnap

Kidnap-for-ransom groups still thrive even with their leaders already serving time, thanks to cell phones smuggled into the New Bilibid Prison, according to a ranking police official.

This has allowed members of different KFR groups to “mutate” and merge into new groups for new operations, said Senior Supt. Roberto Fajardo, head of the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group.

“Kidnap-for-ransom is still a very lucrative business,” Fajardo said, noting that while the PNP had already put most KFR groups behind bars over the few past years, their leaders were still able to call the shots from the national penitentiary.

Fajardo cited the arrest of suspects in the recent kidnapping of two Chinese-Filipino businessmen, who were reunited with their families before Christmas.

Marlon Altizo, Jemmel Cinco, Rolly Falcon, Drackilou Falcon and Abigail Lapinid were captured in Matnog, Sorsogon province, on Dec. 22 when the PNP launched a rescue operation for their victim, Giovanni Rosanno Tan.

In a separate KFR case, Maribel Bucala was arrested in follow-up operations after receiving ransom money sent through money transfer for kidnap victim Michelle Ng.

According to Fajardo, Altizo and Drackilou Falcon were previously jailed on homicide charges. While in detention, they apparently came into contact with the leaders of the Ampang Colangco, Bucala and other kidnapping groups.

Fajardo noted that with the help of smuggled cell phones, the gang leaders were able to continue their operations by merging members of their respective groups into new alliances.

Bucala, on the other hand, is a member of the Bucala family who ran a kidnapping group and one of her brothers is currently serving time in Bilibid, the PNP official said.

“Even if they are already in prison, the leaders still direct their groups’ operations,” Fajardo said. “There must be a strong political will to ensure zero tolerance for cell phones in prison.”

Despite repeated raids and renewed assurances of tighter security, NBP officials continue to report finding contraband in the national penitentiary—not just phones but also firearms, ammunition and bladed weapons. The latest crackdown on Dec. 22 led to the seizure of 11 phones.

The most revealing raids were conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation in December last year, showing how moneyed inmates had managed to live in luxury even behind bars by acquiring high-end appliances, home theater systems, imported food and liquor, and even sex toys. These items were not just stuffed in ordinary-looking cells but in pastel-painted “kubol” (quarters) with mood lighting and Jacuzzis.

Nineteen convicted drug lords were then temporarily moved to the NBI headquarters before being returned to Bilibid in August, this time in spartan-looking cells monitored through security cameras, in a building separate from the rest of the inmates.

Fajardo urged prison officials to ensure that inmates are really cut off from the outside world. “Once in prison or jail, there should be no cell phones or other forms of communication for the inmates. They should be isolated.”

Even prison guards who may be “fraternizing” with their prisoners should not be allowed to use cell phones while on duty, he said.