Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II bared yesterday that there are some religious groups who have been bringing in prostitutes and illegal drugs into the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
“We have found out some of the possibly religious personnel who were conducting some preaching inside the Bilibid have been used for bringing drugs as well as prostitutes inside the Bilibid,” said Aguirre during a press conference yesterday morning.
The Secretary disclosed that he received this information from a president of a non-government organization (NGO) and three prison guards who came to his office at the Department of Justice (DoJ) 10 days ago.
“Meron din matinong guards, nagsumbong din sa DoJ…tatlong silang guards na talagang pinatotohanan nila na may nangyayaring ganoon,” he told reporters.
Based on the report, Aguirre said a bonafide religious group which has a chapel inside the NBP entered the prison facility with around four to five female companions.
“Napag-alaman nila na hindi kasama talaga; they are proestitutes,” he said.
Aguirre learned that Bilbid personnel who were allowing these religious groups into the prison facility also knew that they were bringing in illegal drugs and prostitutes.
“They are offering these prostitutes to the personnel of course for P4,500,” he cited.
On the other hand, Aguirre said they have yet to determine which religious group or how many were involved in the illegal activities.
The Secretaty assured that the DoJ will conduct an investigation on the matter. (Jeffrey G. Damicog)
