Sugar gliders, improvised guns found in 29th Bilibid raid

A sugar glider is confiscated from an inmate of the New Bilibid Prison, on Tuesday, Apr. 19, 2016, during the 29th Oplan Galugad, a campaign to confiscate all contraband smuggled into the prison. (Contributed Photo)

MANILA — Protected wildlife species that are native to Australia and Indonesia were among those seized during the 29th Oplan Galugad at the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) on Tuesday.

Four sugar gliders placed inside two cages were recovered from the estimated 3,000 inmates of Quadrant 4, Building 5 in the Maximum Security Compound. Supt. Richard Schwarzkopf, the NBP director, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that it was the first time they confiscated this kind of animal since the first “Galugad” in November 2015. He added that detainees were taking care of these animals as pets and as part of their recreation inside the detention facility.

The group Sugar Gliders Philippines Community says on its official website that these exotic animals make “wonderful pets” because they relate well to people and form strong bonds with their owners. They are also known to crave attention from humans. Sugar gliders are sold online from P2,000 to P3,000.

But since it is against the policy of the NBP to allow inmates to keep pets and exotic animals like this, Schwarzkopf said they took them into custody. “However, since pets are not considered contraband, we are actually considering the possibility of allowing dogs or cats inside the NBP to help inmates fight their boredom. It can also be a big part of their reformation,” he added.

Aside from the sugar gliders, the NBP director said they also seized improvised firearms, cell phones, air coolers, speakers, weighing scales, knives and WiFi routers.

The operation conducted by at least 120 authorities also demolished the Presidio Headquarters Knights Hospitallers, which according to NBP officials, served as the “house” of notorious drug dealer Luis Go.

“We are one by one removing these luxurious shelters of inmates because we want everyone treated equally. We have transferred these detainees to their official prison cells after the demolition,” Schwarzkopf said.

He explained that the NBP would continue with their Oplan Galugad in the coming weeks and months as part of their security measures. “We hope to make this a routine to prevent contrabands from entering the prison compound,” the NBP director said.

Schwarzkopf said that the items they recovered on Tuesday and in the past Oplan Galugad may have been slipped inside the NBP through garbage trucks, ambulances or vehicles of catering services that entered the facility. Stricter measures on vehicles going in and out of the NBP compound have been imposed, he said. (With reports from John Cyril Yee, trainee)  SFM