BuCor: Condoms, pigeons used to smuggle shabu in Bilibid

MANILA - Bureau of Corrections chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. on Thursday appealed to senators for help to end the smuggling of shabu in New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Catapang said condoms are being used to bring illegal drugs inside the national penitentiary.

"Iyong condom - pagpaumanhin niyo po - nilalagay po doon ang shabu. Tapos ilalagay sa pw*rta ng mga babae, hindi naman po namin pwedeng kapkapan iyong mga babae. Makakasuhan naman kami ng human rights," he told the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights as it continues its probe into the issues at the NBP.

The official said some have started to train pigeons to smuggle shabu.

"Pinaka-latest po iyong mga kalapati. Iyong mga bata o mga bisita nila, may dalang itlog. I-incubate doon, so after so many months, mapipisa. Tapos palalakihin, tuturuan iyong mga kalapati maglipad-lipad doon sa paikot. Pagdating naman noong mga bisita nila, ibibigay iyong kalapati tapos matututo na iyong kalapati na bumalik doon sa kanilang pugad," Catapang revealed.

This is aside from other contraband seized since Catapang held office, including firearms, grenades, mobile and electronic devices, vape, and cigarettes which are sold at P7,000 per pack.

Meanwhile, the BuCor chief said they are still looking for a place where they can transfer the national penitentiary amid concerns from nearby subdivisions in its current location in Muntinlupa.

"Ang balak po talaga namin umalis na rin diyan sa Muntinlupa dahil napaikutan na rin po kami ng mayayaman na subdivision. Nagiging worry po nila dahil anytime na magkaroon ng kaunting gulo sa loob eh nababagabag po sila. So dumating na rin po ang punto na kailangan umalis na kami diyan," Catapang said.

"Kaya't naghahanap po kami ng malilipat, north of Metro Manila and south of Metro Manila na hindi tawid-dagat. Kasi po ngayon ang pinaka-nililipat namin sa Iwahig - bagamat na napakalaking lugar iyan, 28,000 - eh malayo kung taga-Metro Manila o Ilocos region ka, malayo ang magiging bisitahan," he added.

Catapang said they are weighing decisions carefully, as they also consider visitation rights for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

"May mga sumusulat sa akin na, huwag niyong ilipat iyong aming kamag-anak kasi kami ay taga-Ilocos. Kung dadalhin niyo po sa Palawan eh napakalayo po. Kaya ina-assess maigi. Pero kung wala naman siyang dalaw for the longest time, nararapat lang na pwede siyang malipat sa ibang lugar. Wala nang malayo o malapit na lugar kasi hindi naman siya nabibisita," he explained.

'WONDERS' IN BILIBID

There are "wonders" inside the maximum security compound, said Bilibid inmate Michael Cataroja, who previously went missing and was speculated dead before he was found by authorities in Rizal province.

• Missing Bilibid inmate re-arrested; BuCor chief orders probe

According to Cataroja, other inmates like him who have escaped did not return alive or have been missing since.

"Meron po akong narinig na mga kwento kwento na mahiwaga raw po iyong maximum... May iba raw po nakakatakas na hindi na nakabalik... Pinapatay na raw po eh... Hindi ko lang po alam kung sa labas o sa loob," he told senators during the hearing.

He revaled that he escaped the prison in July after he hid underneath a garbage truck.

"Pagpasok po ng July, maluwag po. Walang keeper, walang SPU (Security Patrol Unit)... Wala po nagbabantay na BuCor sa loob. Walang keeper. Sa maximum po, walang keeper... Mga 2 linggo na po walang keeper," ani Cataroja.

NBP OIC camp commander Purificacion Hari admitted there were no security patrols roaming in the compound that time.

"Noong nag-assume po ako as OIC ng maximum, April 12 ... Kinabahan nga po ako. Kasi wala ng SPU and keepers. Wala ng magme-maintain ng peace and order sa loob ng maximum. Bilang babae po, mahirap sa akin mag-maintain ng ganoon. So kinakausap ko lagi iyong Commander of the Guards," Hari said.

According to former BuCor Deputy Director Angelina Bautista, only NBP officials who were under investigation were sacked.

"Iyon po na-relieve na SPU, iyon po iyong mga nangangaroling kahit hindi Pasko... Iyan po iyong nire-report ng mga PDL natin na hinihingan po ang bawat commander. Kakatok po kasi iyang mga iyan, nagro-roving sila... Pag na-relieve po iyan, inherent duties and function po ng isang camp commander na mag-designate ng mga tao na ilalagay po niya kapalit po nila," she said.

The official also denied reports of disco events in Bilibid.

Sen. Robin Padilla, a former inmate of NBP, said BuCor should make sure its officials will be worthy and accountable for their posts.

"Dapat magkaroon sila ng guidelines na ganoon, kung kaya ba talaga ng opisyal iyong binibigay sa kanyang posisyon. Kasi parang doon nanggaling... Kasi nagulat ako ng sinabi niyang wala na siyang makitang keeper. Parang imposihleng mangyari iyon. Dahil sa loob ng tatlong taon ko sa Bilibid, laging may keeper. Sa maximum, walang keeper?" he said.

Padilla offered Cataroja to be a "witness" for revealing anomalies in Bilibid, but the inmate merely said it was "up to fate." He also apologized for his past errors.

"Pasensya na po kayo. Sa lahat po ng BuCor na nadamay, lalo na po sa mga kakosa ko, kina commander na naibyahe po sa Sablayan (Prison and Penal Farm). Sana po mapatawad niyo ako sa ginawa kong kalokohan," he said.

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