SAF members into Bilibid drug trade?

Justice Sec. Vitaliano Aguirre II. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/EDWIN BACASMAS

Some members of the Special Action Force (SAF) may have been involved in the resurgence of drug activities inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Monday.

Earlier, the justice chief admitted that there has been a resurgence of drug trade inside the NBP.

READ: Aguirre admits resurgence of drug trade at NBP

He noted that some members of the police elite force may have been involved due to their familiarity with the inmates.

The more than 300 SAF contingents which have been deployed at Bilibid last year were supposed to stay only for three to six months and then they will be replaced by the Marines.

The rotation did not happen, said Aguirre, because the Marines have been busy fighting in Marawi and other parts of Mindanao.

“Because of their familiarity, they have stayed there for more than six months. Our original plan was for them to be in the area for only three months,” Aguirre said.

He hinted that because of the huge amount of money involved, some of the guards may have been tempted to accept bribes from prison drug dealers.

Aguirre said he will talk to the head of SAF for a possible investigation.

The SAF contingent took over last year replacing Bureau of Corrections jail guards who were made to undergo re-training./rga