The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) announced on Wednesday, Nov. 2, that it had seized more than 7,000 beer, illegal drugs, and other contraband during its “Oplan Galugad” inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
In a press briefing, BuCor officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang said the underground selling of a “Red horse extra strong” beer costs Php 1,000 each.
“First time na nakapasok na ganiyang kadami, parang nagdeliver ng truck. Sa history ng BuCor, ngayon lang nangyari na nakapasok ang ganiyang kadaming alak,” he said.
Also seized in the operations are cash, communication devices such as laptops and cellphones, deadly weapons, cigarettes, and gambling materials.
Catapang said inmates voluntarily surrendered the contraband.
"Natutuwa ako [dahil] nadaan sila sa pakiusap. Ibigsabihin seryoso sila, ini-volunteer 'yung alak, baril, cellphone, shabu, lahat 'yan," he said.
Catapang said some personnel has already disclosed who permitted the entry of the contraband and they are already under investigation.
"Ini-imbestigahan namin ito. We don’t want to point fingers. May mga kumanta na, may mga sworn statement na. But we could not announce it kasi kailangan muna malaman sa taas. The higher ups would be the ones to announce,” Capatang said.
“We will not let these things happen but it did happen, it was not during our time. Bakit ngayon lang nakita ‘yan? So i-imbestigahan namin para hindi na maulit,” he added.
Catapang was recently appointed as the BuCor OIC replacing the seat of Director General Gerald Bantag who got preventively suspended following the death of an inmate referred to as the “middleman” in the slay case of radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.
