MANILA, Philippines — The New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City will have its own rehabilitation facility to treat drug-dependent inmates.
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chairman Catalino Cuy signed a memorandum of agreement for the project last week.
The DDB donated P8.5 million to the BuCor to help fund the construction of the drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation center in the national penitentiary.
Cuy said the program was an idea of Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, who called a meeting between the DDB and BuCor.
Cuy lauded the BuCor’s initiative to help inmates who are hooked into drugs.
“We are optimistic that with the treatment and rehabilitation facility in place, drug dependency in jails will be addressed,” he said.
High-value convicts have reportedly continued their illegal drug trade in Bilibid as shown by the series of stings where huge hauls of narcotics were seized.
Several inmates and visitors have tried to sneak into the NBP shabu and marijuana placed in small packs to evade inspection.