Inmate Jaybee Sebastian yesterday said the illegal drug trade was rampant in the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) during the time of Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Franklin Bucayu.
The NBP inmate for six years told the House Committee on Justice that the drug trade strongly thrived during Bucayu’s leadership.
He noted that the deployment of Special Action Force (SAF) to the NBP a few months ago reduced the drug trade in the penitentiary.
“Kung meron man, minimal na lang, ’yung naiwan na lang ’yung nakaraan,” he said.
Rep. Luisa Cuaresma asked BuCor officer-in-charge Gen. Rolly Asuncion to ensure that the drug trade will be stamped out in the NBP.
“Siguraduhin po natin Director na the more tayo na magtrabaho. Kung kailangan natin ilagay natin sila sa bawat selda, at inspeksyunin, ayusin natin talaga. Alam ko through your leadership na malaki ang mababago at maayos ang lahat para maayos natin ang Bilibid,” she said.
During the hearing, Sebastian said it was all De Lima’s fault that the drug trade proliferated in the NBP.
(Charissa M. Luci)