Secure NBP building yields contraband

THE HIGH-PROFILE inmates who recently moved back to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) headquarters in Manila following the discovery of banned items in their “kubol” or quarters in December 2014 appear to be enjoying the same privileges they were sanctioned for in the first place.

In a phone interview, NBP director Supt. Richard Schwarzkopf  said that Wednesday’s surprise check on the “closely guarded” Building 14 where the so-called “Bilibid 19” have been housed since their return to the facility last year yielded contraband such as a speaker, a Wi-Fi booster, mixer and cell phones, among others.

According to him, the owners of the banned items have yet to be identified as Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) personnel are  still conducting an inventory.

“We have already been conducting special operations [since August last year in Building 14] but this time, unlike in previous operations, we seized a lot of contraband,” Schwarzkopf said.

A report sent to his office showed that BuCor personnel also seized 28 cans of beer, a portable gaming device, karaoke equipment, two DVD players, five USBs, a tripod, a  computer monitor, an electric stove, four SIM cards and four headsets, among others.

Building 14, which underwent a P30-million renovation program last year, was earlier described by NBP officials as a closely guarded area due to the installation of 24-hour surveillance cameras, a jamming device and a state-of-the-art security system.

Wednesday’s search—the 13th to be conducted since last year—began around 5 a.m. and ended at 9 a.m.

Schwarzkopf said that an “in-depth investigation” was underway to determine who among the prison personnel in Building 14 were conniving with inmates in bringing in the banned items.

He added that next week, “some light would be shed on the case” of five prison personnel who had been accused of the same.

According to him, the NBP’s Investigation Affairs Service has already asked the five to issue a  counter-statement.

Also seized from other buildings in the NBP, specifically the Inmate and Custodial Dorm, Building 1, the Reception and Diagnostics Center, and the power house in the Medium Security Compound were six improvised bladed weapons, 27 cell phones, a liquefied petroleum gas tank, a water pump, eight pigeons, a powerbank and 14 rice cookers, among other items, the report sent to Schwarzkopf said.

During a raid on the maximum security compound led by then Justice Secretary Leila de Lima in December 2014, the so-called Bilibid 19—many of them convicted drug lords—were found living in luxury and plying their illegal trade behind bars, apparently with the help  of prison guards.

Found in some of their kubol were air-conditioning units, a Jacuzzi, drugs, concert equipment, sex toys and huge amounts of cash.

To isolate them, the inmates were moved out of the NBP and taken to the NBI. In August last year, they were returned to the NBP but in Building 14 where De Lima said stricter security measures would be implemented.