Prison raid yields drugs, banned appliances

Sachets of suspected shabu, an aircondition and a refrigerator.

These were among the items confiscated from two inmates at the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Alabang, Muntinlupa City during two separate early morning raids yesterday.

Drug paraphernalia, two cellular phones and an intercom unit, were seized as well.

The appliances and phones were confiscated from inmate Peter Co who had been convicted for drug trafficking and sentenced to life imprisonment. The suspected drugs were found in the possession of inmate Nelson Crisostomo, sentenced to life for rape and homicide.

The raid was carried out at Co’s hut or kubol near Dormitory 13-B at around 6 a.m. and at Crisostomo‘s cell at Dormitory 3-D1, at around 8 a.m., said Superintendent Francisco Abonales of the maximum security compound.

Abonales said he ordered the raids after receiving information about illegal activities at the dorm. A team initially searched Co’s kubol for illegal drugs but failed to find any shabu.

"Magaling magtago. Nevertheless, his appliances were confiscated because having them is against prison rules," he said.

Co has yet to be interrogated as to how the appliances found their way into his hut and how long he has had them, Abonales said. Co stays alone in his hut, located near Dormitory 13-B.

Another team found a total of 23 plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance, suspected to be shabu, hidden under Crisostomo’s clothes and his bed.

Eleven of the sachets were slightly bigger than the rest, Abonales said. The smaller sachets were estimated to have a street value of P200 each.

As of press time, Abonales said Crisostomo is still being questioned how he got possession of the prohibited drug.

"He doesn’t want to talk yet. I think he’s scared. I’m thinking of putting him in a safe place so that he would cooperate with the investigators," Abonales said. Prison officials are trying to find out if the inmate obtained the prohibited drugs from NBP employees or visitors.

Co would certainly face sanctions, Abonales said, such as suspending his right to receive visitors. Crisostomo could be charged with drug possession after the investigation.

The sachets have been sent to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for examination. Co’s appliances are now in the office of maximum security compound assistant superintendent, Dante Cruz, for safekeeping. – Nikko Dizon