Murder convict bolts NBP’s maximum prison

MANILA, Philippines - An inmate at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City escaped from the facility’s maximum security compound yesterday.

The escape of Reynaldo Fuentes, 39, who is serving time for murder, was discovered after prison officials conducted a headcount, NBP Superintendent Richard Schwarzkopf Jr. said.  

Schwarzkopf said Fuentes does not belong to any of the 13 gangs in the NBP.

The inmate was detained at Dorm 12-B of the maximum security compound.

Prison officials are conducting investigation following the discovery of a rake with a rope, believed to have been used by Fuentes to escape.

Reports said the inmate tied a rope around the rake and used it to scale the prison wall.

Schwarzkopf ordered a search of the 19-hectare prison complex in an effort to locate the missing inmate.

He said Fuentes would be declared an escapee after efforts to locate him fail.

K-9 units were also deployed to check if the visitors attempted to bring explosives along with their food for Noche Buena.

Biometrics for visitors

Meanwhile, the NBP has implemented a biometrics system for visitors at the national penitentiary.

Officials said the biometrics registration was put in place as part of security measures to ensure that only legitimate visitors can enter the prison facility.

Only immediate family members of the inmates were allowed to enter the compound on Dec. 25.

Conjugal visits were also allowed at the dormitories of the inmates.

Schwarzkopf  said the computerized records of the inmates’ visitors would be stored in a database and would be made available to law enforcement agencies.

 “The biometrics system is part of the reforms at the NBP to address the practice of prostitution in the prison as well as the entry of firearms and other contraband,” he said.