Battalion-size NCRPO strike force sent to Bilibid as drastic reforms start
By Rica Arevalo
Published Oct 05, 2019 11:12 am
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Updated Oct 05, 2019 11:12 am
By Aaron Recuenco
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has deployed a battalion-size police strike force at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) to assist in the conduct of special operations inside the corruption-tainted detention facility amid the aggressive and massive reform programs being planned by Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag.
Metro Manila police chief Maj. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar meets with BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag to discuss NCRPO role in the conduct of drastic reforms at the New Bilibid Prisons. (Photo courtesy of NCRPO / MANILA BULLETIN)
NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said that the 551-strong NCRPO strike force will also help in securing Bantag and other personnel of the BuCor who would implement drastic changes inside the Bilibid.
"Director General Bantag has requested the NCRPO for augmentation to implement his reforms. We thank him for trusting us and in return I assured him that the NCRPO will be his partner to ensure that all the instructions given to him by President Duterte would be effectively carried out," said Eleazar.
But Eleazar explained that the NCRPO strike force at the Bilibid will just be temporary until such time that Bantag creates his own.
Once Bantag handpicks his own men to for his own NBP elite strike force, Eleazar said that their role would be reduced into providing the training and training venue at the NCRPO Headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City for the new team.
Bantag was appointed as BuCor Director General because of his tough leadership style which fitted President Duterte's choice to carry out drastic reform programs at the NBP.
Over the years, the NBP has gained the notoriety for massive corruption that includes special favors for rich inmates, including convicted drug lords.
Instead of tapping existing NBP guards, Bantag chose to get manpower from the NCRPO and from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) over trust issues.
Bantag reportedly believed that almost all of the NBP personnel were already compromised due to the deeply-rooted culture of corruption at the facility.
Augmentation
In response, Eleazar sent a total of 551 NCRPO policemen, composed of three officers with the rank of captain and 548 Police Non-Commissioned Officers.
In a meeting on Friday at the NBP, Bantag briefed Eleazar of the security plans he crafted not only to ensure peace and order at the NBP but also get rid of the facility of all the illegal activities being undertaken by convicted felons.
Eleazar said he also discussed with Bantag several measures to intensify intelligence-sharing to thwart any attempt of any convicted drug lords to communicate with cohorts outside the NBP for the continuation of their drug operations.
The deployment of 551 NCRPO personnel at the Bilibid was given a go-sign by Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano.
Resist temptation
During his visit, Eleazar reminded the NCRPO personnel deployed at the NBP not to give in to any temptation being offered by any convicts.
"Do not even dare to destroy the trust given to us by the BuCor leadership. You are here to help Director General Bantag to get rid of corruption and other illegal operations here as instructed by the President," said Eleazar.
"This is your chance to contribute in reforming the NBP, this is your chance for the greatest contribution to the BuCor, to the PNP, and to the Philippine Government. Take this as your chance to prove your worth as police officers, to show the public how disciplined and determined NCRPO personnel are," he added.
Eleazar said they have implemented measures to ensure that NCRPO personnel will not be corrupted inside the NBP, including intensified intelligence and monitoring.
"Dala-dala ninyo ang pangalan ng kapulisan, kayo ang inaasahan ng buong police organization na muling ipakita ang integridad at dedikasyon ng isang puli sa kabila ng mga hamon na ating kinakaharap ngayon," the Metro Manila top cop stressed.
"Lagi ninyong tatandaan, kakampi ninyo ako, kakampi ninyo so DG Bantag, kakampi ninyo ang Pangulo, kalampi ninyo ang sambayanang Pilipino upang linisin ang Bilibid kung gagawin ninyo ang inyong trabaho ng tapat," he added.
Metro Manila police chief Maj. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar meets with BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag to discuss NCRPO role in the conduct of drastic reforms at the New Bilibid Prisons. (Photo courtesy of NCRPO / MANILA BULLETIN)
NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said that the 551-strong NCRPO strike force will also help in securing Bantag and other personnel of the BuCor who would implement drastic changes inside the Bilibid.
"Director General Bantag has requested the NCRPO for augmentation to implement his reforms. We thank him for trusting us and in return I assured him that the NCRPO will be his partner to ensure that all the instructions given to him by President Duterte would be effectively carried out," said Eleazar.
But Eleazar explained that the NCRPO strike force at the Bilibid will just be temporary until such time that Bantag creates his own.
Once Bantag handpicks his own men to for his own NBP elite strike force, Eleazar said that their role would be reduced into providing the training and training venue at the NCRPO Headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City for the new team.
Bantag was appointed as BuCor Director General because of his tough leadership style which fitted President Duterte's choice to carry out drastic reform programs at the NBP.
Over the years, the NBP has gained the notoriety for massive corruption that includes special favors for rich inmates, including convicted drug lords.
Instead of tapping existing NBP guards, Bantag chose to get manpower from the NCRPO and from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) over trust issues.
Bantag reportedly believed that almost all of the NBP personnel were already compromised due to the deeply-rooted culture of corruption at the facility.
Augmentation
In response, Eleazar sent a total of 551 NCRPO policemen, composed of three officers with the rank of captain and 548 Police Non-Commissioned Officers.
In a meeting on Friday at the NBP, Bantag briefed Eleazar of the security plans he crafted not only to ensure peace and order at the NBP but also get rid of the facility of all the illegal activities being undertaken by convicted felons.
Eleazar said he also discussed with Bantag several measures to intensify intelligence-sharing to thwart any attempt of any convicted drug lords to communicate with cohorts outside the NBP for the continuation of their drug operations.
The deployment of 551 NCRPO personnel at the Bilibid was given a go-sign by Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano.
Resist temptation
During his visit, Eleazar reminded the NCRPO personnel deployed at the NBP not to give in to any temptation being offered by any convicts.
"Do not even dare to destroy the trust given to us by the BuCor leadership. You are here to help Director General Bantag to get rid of corruption and other illegal operations here as instructed by the President," said Eleazar.
"This is your chance to contribute in reforming the NBP, this is your chance for the greatest contribution to the BuCor, to the PNP, and to the Philippine Government. Take this as your chance to prove your worth as police officers, to show the public how disciplined and determined NCRPO personnel are," he added.
Eleazar said they have implemented measures to ensure that NCRPO personnel will not be corrupted inside the NBP, including intensified intelligence and monitoring.
"Dala-dala ninyo ang pangalan ng kapulisan, kayo ang inaasahan ng buong police organization na muling ipakita ang integridad at dedikasyon ng isang puli sa kabila ng mga hamon na ating kinakaharap ngayon," the Metro Manila top cop stressed.
"Lagi ninyong tatandaan, kakampi ninyo ako, kakampi ninyo so DG Bantag, kakampi ninyo ang Pangulo, kalampi ninyo ang sambayanang Pilipino upang linisin ang Bilibid kung gagawin ninyo ang inyong trabaho ng tapat," he added.