Drugs seized in Bilibid raids

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) continued clearing operations at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP), conducting raids and seizing contraband items inside the maximum security compound in the last two days.

BuCor Director Dionisio Santiago said raiding teams have recovered illegal drugs, including 250 grams of shabu, 10 sticks of marijuana, dried marijuana leaves, some 10 grams of cocaine and four Ecstasy tablets.

At around 4:20 p.m. last Friday, a team led by NBP Superintendent Francisco Abunales recovered the shabu from Dormitory 1.

"The illegal substance was hidden underneath the water containers. We have information on the identity of the inmate, who had been convicted of drug trafficking, but we are still verifying this," he said.

Four hours later, the raiders proceeded to Dormitory 3 and found three jugs and one gallon of tuba, or coconut wine, and 10 bladed weapons.

"On Monday, during the flag ceremony, we will throw away the liquor to show them what we do to confiscated items," Abunales said.

At 5 a.m. yesterday, the raiding team woke up inmates in Building 4, which holds former Zamboanga Rep. Romeo Jalosjos, and recovered only a few bladed weapons.

The marijuana, cocaine and Ecstasy were discovered in Building 1. The items would be subjected to forensic tests to be conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). "We still don’t know who owns these prohibited drugs because we found them outside their dormitory. We suspect that culprits threw them out of the window while we were searching," Abunales said.

Santiago said inmates themselves have been disclosing information to authorities after BuCor temporarily suspended visitation rights.

Last week, the BuCor chief was irked when NBP jail guards recovered 30 grams of shabu from a Chinese inmate housed in Building 13. Two other Chinese inmates were caught having a pot session with him in Building 3.

As a form of punishment, families will not be allowed to visit prisoners housed in the two dormitories until the detainees have shown sincerity that they have reformed.

"From the start, the two Chinese inmates should not even be allowed to leave their holding cell because they are on death row. Now, I have also prohibited inmates from going to other dormitories," Santiago said.