20 shanties demolished in Bilibid

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) demolished 20 shanties in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) maximum security compound during a raid yesterday.

The shanties, built beside a dormitory for prisoners without prison gang affiliations, were occupied by around 200 inmates, NBP superintendent Richard Schwarzkopf Jr. said. There are 13 prison gangs in the state penitentiary.

“The clearing operation will also be carried out in other dormitories,” he said.

Contraband thrown over the prison’s perimeter fences were kept in the shanties, according to reports Schwarzkopf received.

The BuCor raiding team also seized sachets said to contain shabu, television sets, electronic gadgets, liquefied petroleum gas tanks, mobile phones, electric fans and an aquarium.

Schwarzkopf said the inmate caught with shabu is “now in a disciplinary cell. Criminal and administrative charges will be filed after investigation.”

The raid, staged as part of Oplan Galugad, is the 14th carried out since November last year.

Hundreds of appliances, firearms, sachets of illegal drugs and an undetermined amount of cash have been confiscated from the inmates in the weekly raids.

During last week’s raid at the NBP’s medium security compound, a mini-swimming pool was found at the rooftop of a three-story kubol or makeshift shelter.

Schwarzkopf said the confiscated appliances, stored in the prison warehouse, will be donated to charity while guns, illegal drugs and mobile phones will be turned over to law enforcement agencies for forensic examination.