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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Inter-agency group formed to combat illegal drugs in BuCor's jails

Inter-agency group formed to combat illegal drugs in BuCor's jails

Published Oct 10, 2023 08:28 am

An inter-agency collaborative group (IACG) has been formed to combat entry of illegal drugs in the detention facilities nationwide of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

The IACG was formed in a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on synchronizing anti-illegal drug efforts that was signed on Tuesday, Oct. 10, at the BuCor headquarters in Muntinlupa.

The signatories were BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr., Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Moro Virgilio M. Lazo, Assistant Director General for Counter Intelligence Rolando E. Asuncion of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Medardo G. de Lemos, and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PGen. Benjamin C. Accords Jr.

Under the MOA, Bucor said an Operations  Center  will be established  inside  the  New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City "to  efficiently  carry  out  the  functions,  duties,  and responsibilities of the IACG and to properly execute and implement the provisions of Republic Act 9165, the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.” 

“The operation center shall concentrate on intelligence gathering, monitoring,  and  taking  action  to  prevent  drug-related  activities  inside  the  NBP and other prison facilities and penal farms,” it said. 

 Covered by the MOA are the NBP, Correctional Institution for Women (Muntinlupa City), lwahig Prison and Penal Farm (Puerto  Princesa  City,  Palawan),  Sablayan  Prison  and  Penal  Farm  (Occidental Mindoro), Leyte Regional Prison (Abuyog, Leyte), San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm (Zamboanga City), and Davao Prison and Penal Farm (B.E. Dujali, Davao del Norte).

“This cooperation and close coordination among agencies is also in line with the guidance of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla to fight illegal drugs in the Bucor and to comply with Congress and Senate’s recommendations to stop illegal drugs activities in BuCor,” it said.

“This is really a tough job for all of us inasmuch as the drug problem will be the greatest problem in the 21st century,” Catapang said during the signing ceremony. "BuCor wants to be a part of this endeavor in addressing illegal drugs,” he said.

Pointint out that illegal drugs have long been a problem at the BuCor, and that "despite security measures in place, persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) even if they are incarcerated, nagdadala ng drugs sa loob (they still manage to smuggle illegal drugs into the prisons),” Catapang said.

Not only PDLs and their visitors but also BuCor have also been involved, he lamented. 

“I have to accept the reality that indeed that the PDLs and the employees of BuCor are involved,” he said as he noted that "70 to 80 percent ang nakakulong dito ay all drug related (of those imprisoned are due to drug-related cases).”

“Ngayon 52,000 na kami and counting (We now have around 52,000 PDLs). When I took over 48,000 lang (only),” said Catapang who got assigned to the BuCor in October last year in acting an capacity prior his permanent appointment.

PDEA Director General Lazo lauded Catapang for taking the initiative in establishing this collaborative effort. “Ito po ay initiative ni Gen. Catapang (This is the initiative of Gen. Catapang),” he said. 

 

 

 

 

Related Tags

National Intelligence Coordinating Agency National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Philippine National Police Bureau of Corrections PDEA
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