Senator Raffy Tulfo on Wednesday, October 26 called for a top-to-bottom investigation of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) personnel and their offices to find out how contraband, which are among the root causes of many crimes involving inmates, are persistently being smuggled into the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Tulfo made the statement upon learning from the sister of NBP inmate Jun Villamor, the dead middleman in the ambush slaying of broadcaster Percy Lapid, that her brother had access to a mobile device while in prison.
A press statement of Tulfo on this issue did not mention who should undertake the investigation and lifestyle check on BuCor personnel.
The senator from Isabela and Davao said that by preventing the entry of contraband items, especially cellphones which are used to communicate with the outside world, killings and other crimes could be prevented.
Aside from regular searches at ‘’kubols (exclusive prison for ‘powerful’ inmates), there should also be searches at the offices of BuCor personnel because contraband, such as cell phones and drugs, could not be smuggled in to the prison facility without the agreement of the personnel and inmates, he pointed out.
Tulfo also strongly suggested that BuCor personnel should be subject to ‘’lifestyle check’’ to stop widespread corruption inside the NBP.
‘’Ang iba kasi diyan, motor ang minamaneho pero all of a sudden, makikita mo na magandang kotse na ang gamit; o di kaya ay dati nangungupahan lang ngunit di magtatagal ay nakatira na sa isang magandang condo unit (There are others who used to drive motorcycles but now drive new cars or are now living in condos when they used to rent apartments),” he added.
During Tulfo’s previous interview with Villamor’s sister, alias “Ate,” on his program “Wanted sa Radyo,” she confirmed that her brother’s mobile device was bought for P10,000 from a person inside the prison.
As early as 2019, then Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) chief Aaron Aquino divulged that some unscrupulous BuCor officials and personnel allow inmates to possess cellphones at a high cost.
Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesman lawyer Mico Clavano, for his part, confirmed on Tulfo’s program that the smuggling of contraband, like cellphones inside NBP, continues to run rampant until now, that is why he agreed to Tulfo’s recommendation for an investigation.
Tulfo added that the current practice of “SIM Card for Rent” inside NBP should also be investigated and stopped.
He, likewise, proposed that strict and thorough body search of all BuCor employees, from high-ranking officials to low ranking officials entering NBP, must be implemented and conducted by outside security personnel.
He said that strict screening of all the materials and goods delivered inside the stores in NBP, which are also being used to bring in contraband, is also necessary.
To ensure prevention of entry of illegal items inside the national penitentiary, Tulfo suggested the use of X-ray machines or hiring of trained dogs to detect contraband.