Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said yesterday he received reports that high-ranking former officials of the Department of Justice (DoJ) have been under the payroll and received millions of pesos from drug lords jailed in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
Aguirre, however, declined to identify the former DoJ officials under the administration of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III who were allegedly receiving funds from drug lords.
“I don’t want to name names kasi syempre it is unfair to them. We will come out with results of that ongoing investigation,” Aguirre told reporters during a press conference.
The Secretary assured he will form an investigative body to conduct a probe on these accusations against the former DOJ officials.
“We have to presume that they are innocent,” he said.
Not only at the DoJ, Aguirre said that the reports he received also identified former and current officials and guards of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) are also in the payroll of the drug lords imprisoned in the NBP.
On the other hand, Aguirre said the reports did not include former BuCor Director Ricardo Rainier Cruz III.
“With respect to General Raineir parang hindi naman siya kasama but wala na rin siyang magawa kasi talagang kasapakat na ng matataas ng opisyal ‘yung lahat ng mga personnel sa NBP,” he said.
The Secretary admitted that the drug lords, particularly those jailed in Building 14, have been the ones running the NBP using money and threats.
“Sila talaga nagmamando kung ano nangyari doon,” he said.