Trillanes seeks to review PHL’s correctional system

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. Photo courtesy of Trillanes’ Facebook page.

MANILA — Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV has filed a resolution seeking inquiry and review of the country’s current correctional system that tolerated special treatment to high-profile inmates and their illegal acts inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

“It is apparent that NBP personnel committed violations against their mandate when they allowed the entry of prohibited items and the construction of high-end ‘kubols’ (booth) inside the NBP as these did not just appear in an instant,” said Trillanes on Tuesday.

In his Senate Resolution No. 1088, Trillanes said the first step to reform the correctional system is to identify and hold accountable the NBP personnel and other involved government officials from the Bureau of Correction (BuCor) who neglected their duties.

Last month, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila De Lima led surprise inspections by operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the NBP’s Maximum Security Compound, which houses convicted drug lords and notorious robbery gang leaders.

The ocular inspections revealed the apparent continuation of drug trade within the premises of NBP, and found high-end special detention area or ‘kubol’ for these prisoners, which have extra-ordinary facilities such as jacuzzi, sauna, bath tub, music studio, generator, split-type air-conditioning units, Wi-Fi, a long conference table, game console, private gym, bar and a kitchen.

Contraband items were also found in these kubols, which included diamond-studded Patek Philippe, Rolex, Cartier and Officine Panerai watches; a Louis Vuitton cash box; bottles of expensive wine and liquor; a life-size sex doll; wide-screen televisions; cell phones; money-counting machines; laptops; a projector and numerous appliances.

The operatives also discovered Php 2 million cash, firearms, and an undetermined amount of methamphetamine hydrochloride or ‘shabu’.

Few days after series of inspections, an eight-year old girl was found naked and unconscious after an inmate, who was tested positive for using drugs, allegedly attempted to rape her inside the NBP’s maximum security compound on New Year’s Day.

Trillanes earlier filed Senate Bill No. 793 to improve the existing correctional system in the country through the integration of its prison and jail system.