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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider BuCor sets up inter-agency office vs illegal drugs in detention facilities

BuCor sets up inter-agency office vs illegal drugs in detention facilities

Published Apr 15, 2024 03:28 am

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) opened on Monday, April 15, an inter-agency office at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City and other detention facilities to detect entry and apprehend those involved in illegal drugs trading.

“The operation center should concentrate on intelligence gathering, monitoring, and taking action to prevent drug-related activities inside the NBP and other prison facilities and penal farms,” BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. said. 

“We are all set now to work together with the common goal of solving illicit drug activities and financially disable those behind  it, and paralyze them from further engaging in the trafficking of illegal drugs,” he said in a statement. 

BuCor signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for the establishment of an operations center inside the NBP “to efficiently carry out the functions, duties, and responsibilities of the IACG (Inter-Agency Collaborative Group) and to properly execute and implement the provisions of Republic Act 9165, the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.” 

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

He admitted that the creation of an inter-agency operations center was prompted by the continued entry of contraband such as dangerous drugs, controlled precursors, essential chemicals, and drug paraphernalia into BuCor’s prison facilities despite stringent measures in place.

He noted that 70 to 80 percent of the over 52,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in BuCor's facilities  nationwide have been convicted for drug-related offenses.

BuCor records show that from January to March 2024, a total of 711.76 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and 13.54 grams of marijuana have been confiscated or recovered directly from PDLs while the majority were found abandoned inside the NBP during searches conducted by corrections officers under “Oplan Galugad.”

It also said that illegal drugs and other banned items like tobacco, cellular telephones, and SIM cards, were confiscated from PDLs' visitors. 

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