Guess who came to see Yu Yuk Lai at women’s correctional?

PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa speaks with the inmates of Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City. Julliane Love de Jesus/INQUIRER.net

A few months before he assumes his upcoming post as Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa visited a Filipino-Chinese “drug queen” at a women’s prison in Mandaluyong City on Tuesday.

Dela Rosa paid convicted drug suspect Yu Yuk Lai a surprise visit at the maximum security facility of the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW).

Asked about the purpose of his visit, Dela Rosa said he came to warn Yu that there would be an intensified crackdown on drug trade within prison facilities once he steps in as BuCor chief.

Dela Rosa said Yu denied continuing her drug business while in jail.

“Sabi man niya (Yu), “Promise talaga ako patay mo dito baril mo dito, wala drugs,” Dela Rosa recalled Yu as saying.

“Sabi ko, pakabait [ka] dahil pagpasok ko dito dapat wala nang issue ng drugs,” he added.

Drug charges were again filed against Yu and her daughter Diane Yu Uy after Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives raided the CIW and a condominium in San Miguel, Manila in November 2017 where illegal drugs, cash and gadgets worth P17-million were seized.

Yu was arrested in 1998 after she was caught selling three kilograms of shabu in a buy-bust operation.

Her daughter previously had a catering contract with CIW./ac