NCRPO clarifies: Cops did not smuggle contraband in Bilibid

MANILA, Philippines – The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) clarified Thursday that its police officers did not smuggle contraband at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) as earlier reported.

Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, acting NCRPO director, earlier ordered the relief of 16 police officers after they were caught allegedly smuggling liquor, cigarettes, and cellphones inside NBP.

READ: NCRPO recalls personnel in Bilibid for contraband smuggling issue

But in a press briefing at the Kamuning Police Station in Quezon City on Thursday, Sinas said interrogation on 14 of the 16 policemen showed that they declared carrying the items outside the NBP as part of protocols and not smuggled in the national penitentiary.

“We have initial findings that I would like to correct. First, I would like to correct that the 16 are not actually caught bringing [contraband] inside the NBP,” Sinas said.

“Kasi bago papasukin sa NBP, nag-a-accounting muna, tapos ‘yung cellphone kinukuha para i-deposit. So hindi po ‘yun nakuha sa loob, sa labas [nakuha] habang nagpo-formation sila,” he explained.

(Before you enter NBP, there will be an accounting of items, and cellphones will be deposited. So the items were not found inside, it was surrendered outside when they were having a formation.)

Sinas said he has yet to hear explanation from the two other accused police officers, who have not yet subjected themselves to a probe before the NCRPO headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Investigation is still ongoing, but for now, Sinas said he does not see any grave offense on the accused policemen since it appears they did not violate any policy. He said the policemen were clueless as to the source of the report on the alleged smuggling.

“It is very clear na nasa formation sila (that they were in formation) and this will be attested by BuCor (Bureau of Corrections) itself na nakuha ‘yun sa labas, hindi sa loob (that the items were not found inside but outside),” he said.

However, Sinas said he takes exception at one of the policemen – the one who brought liquor at NBP – who has not yet presented himself at the NCRPO headquarters. He raised eyebrows on why the policeman had to bring liquor.

Sinas added that the cellphones of the 14 policemen have been subjected to forensics at the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to identify if any of the phones came from inside NBP. The ACG has yet to release its findings. /kga