Inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) are believed to be using underground tunnels to cook illegal drugs.
“We have received information that shabu is being cooked or manufactured underground in tunnels at the NBP,” said Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II yesterday.
Aguirre said the informant revealed that methamphetamine hydrochloride, better known as shabu, was being smuggled into the prison facility through bottles of water.
He explained that shabu was mixed with water contained in the bottles that were being brought to the inmates.
Once inside the NBP, the water is boiled until only the shabu crystals are left.
Last Wednesday, Aguirre was at the NBP as 320 members of the Police Special Action Force (SAF) took over security duties at the prison facility.
Marine Major General Alexander Balutan has already been picked to head the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) once he retires on August 1.
During his visit, the Secretary revealed that a P50 million bounty was also raised by drug lords to have him killed.
Earlier, Aguirre disclosed that 75 percent of the illegal drugs transactions in the country take place within the NBP.
In the meantime, he said that investigation is ongoing to identify NBP officials and personnel who are working with drug personalities. (JEFFREY DAMICOG)