NBP gangs charge ‘visitor’s fees’

MANILA, Philippines - Aside from trading in illegal drugs and guns, gangs whose members are serving time in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) maximum security compound are earning at least P3 million per month by charging inmates’ relatives “visitor’s fees,” a source said yesterday.

“The minimum visitor’s fee is P10 or more, depending on the status of the visitors,” the source said.

There are 11 gangs in the nine-hectare prison facility, each with its own dormitory: Batang City Jail, Batang Samar Leyte, Oxo, Commando, Sputnik, Bahala Na, Happy Go Lucky, Batang Cebu, Genuine Ilocano, Bicol Romblon Masbate and Batang Mandarambong.

Inmates at the NBP are given 22 days for visits each month and the gangs take in around P100,000 per day or P3 million in visitor’s fees per month, according to the source.

“There are 14,500 inmates inside the maximum security compound. You can compute the amount of money flowing daily to the prison gang leaders,” he said.

The source said the fee is an unwritten agreement between the inmates and the visitors and it is beyond the control of the prison officials. The gangs’ leaders decide how the money is spent, he added. 

With the steady income from visitor’s fees, it is not surprising that gang can retain the services of top law firms and publicists, as well as contract killers to kill their enemies and critics, the source said. 

“Nobody messes around with gangs. They have the resources, the connection and influence. They can flex their muscles even if they incarcerated,” he added.

The entire prison population is divided into regional or gang affiliations and the inmates’ links to law enforcement agencies as informants make them nearly untouchable, according to the source.