The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) is studying whether to donate or sell useful confiscated items inside the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP).
BuCor have confiscated huge numbers of appliances and gadgets in their series of raids to rid the national penitentiary of prohibited items and stop illegal activities such as drug trafficking.
In its series of “Oplan Galugad,” it has confiscated LED televisions, colored TV sets, air conditioning units, refrigerators, microwave ovens, oven toasters, electric fans, ceiling fans, DVD players, game controllers, various types of mobile phones, laptops, pocket WiFi devices, signal booster, photocopier, blender, gaming console, electric massager, diamond peel machine, among others.
NBP Superintendent Richard Schwarzkopf said the confiscated items are in their warehouse and they are still determining which of the items are in good condition.
“We will come up with a recommendation on what to do with those items,” Schwarzkopf said Tuesday.
Schwarzkopf said they would continue with the “Oplan Galugad” operations until they get rid of all contraband items inside the NBP.
“Oplan Galugad” raids he said are being supplemented by smaller operations to keep up the pressure on inmates to stop their illegal activities.
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“Aside from making the Oplan Galugad operations routine, we are also conducting special operations of 10 to 15 men which are different from Oplan Galugad which are participated [in] by hundreds of personnel,” Schwarzkopf said.
The “Oplan Galugad” launched last year by BuCor Director Ricardo Rainier Cruz has seen personnel not only from the BuCor but also from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, police from Special Weapons and Tactics and even Army K-9 units sweep the NBP compound in search of contraband items such as firearms, drugs, appliances and cellular phones.
As part of the increased security measures, Schwarzkopf said they are also continuously moving personnel to “avoid familiarization with the inmates.”
Administrative charges have already been filed last month against four NBP personnel last month for their alleged collusion with inmates at the national penitentiary.
The four came under fire last December 2015 when several cellular phones of inmates were recovered in their drawers during a surprise inspection. CDG
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