BuCor: 115 prisoners, 2 personnel test positive for illegal drug use

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Wednesday said 115 inmates and two of its employees have tested positive for use of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu after the conduct of a random drug test.

A report from BuCor showed that the drug test was conducted on 585 persons deprived of liberty (PDL) and 1,023 BuCor employees from January to July this year.

“Of those tested, 115 PDLs were found positive for methamphetamine. And two of these numbers were also found positive for tetrahydrocannabinol,” the report stated.

The random test was conducted not only at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) but also at other penal institutions operated by the BuCor.

BuCor Director Benjamin Delos Santos said administrative charges will be filed against the two BuCor employees while the PDLs will be penalized by having their Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) deducted.

Earlier, Delos Santos said the BuCor has been conducting drug tests in correctional and penal institutions in the country for both inmates and their custodians to ensure that they are not using illegal drugs.

Last July 6, detained Senator Leila de Lima filed Senate Bill 1496 mandating regular drug tests in correctional and penal institutions in the country.

READ: De Lima wants drug tests in jails amid NBP drug trade resurgence

In filing SB 1496 last July 6, De Lima said it seems that the current measures being implemented by the authorities are still ineffective the narcotics problems in the country’s penitentiary system and that a mandatory drug testing of detainees and their custodians is one of the measures needed to address the problem. JPV