President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered the transfer of 200 high-value detainees from the New Bilibid Prison to a new maximum-security facility in a bid to disrupt the illegal drug trade in the jails, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor ‘Jonvic’ Remulla said.
Remulla also revealed that the President also directed the concerned authorities to strictly monitor the country’s “entry points of illegal drugs.’’
In a statement, Remulla said that the DILG, the Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) were instructed to strengthen their collaboration in pursuit of the government’s fight against illegal drugs in the country.
The DILG chief noted that the government has now identified the main transit points of drugs that need to be addressed to paralyze the route of its supply.
“The number one control point that has to be addressed is the Manila International Container Port (MICP), Subic and PHIVIDEC in Cagayan (Cagayan de Oro City),’’ Remulla noted.
Remulla also cited “the plans of the admin (administration) on the ‘big guns’ in illegal drugs, the use of cryptocurrency to hide transactions and the main source of drug trade in Muntinlupa City Jail.’’
On Monday, November 11, Marcos discussed with key officials the new strategy after an intelligence report revealed that the top source of drug trade in the country remains inside the New Bilibid Prison with the drug distribution now more sophisticated.
Remulla noted that Marcos bared how the drug trade has become more sophisticated that made the administration to refocus its own drug war approach by running after the big time drug personalities.
"The drug trade is more sophisticated now, they use more sophisticated methods and distribution, they use crypto currency to hide their proceeds. So it's a different war altogether," Remulla said.
Remulla noted that authorities had identified the individuals who may be involved in the large-scale drug trade within the Bilibid, adding that they are now being investigated, including the jail guards and their supervisors.