PNoy orders De Lima: Reclaim Bilibid

MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday ordered Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to "reclaim" the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) from the hands of crime bosses.

"Ang pinaka-marching order n'yan, planuhin daw lahat para ma-reclaim ang buong NBP from the grasp and control of these moneyed and influential inmates. Reclaimed," De Lima said in an interview on ABS-CBN's "Bandila" on late Thursday.

Several inmates were found in possession of contraband and living in rooms, or "kubols," with hotel-like amenities during a raid led by De Lima on Monday. The Department of Justice had 19 convicted drug lords and crime syndicate leaders transferred to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detention facility following the inspection.

De Lima affirmed that so-called "very important" prisoners may have been either bribing or threatening jail guards and Bureau of Corrections officials.

"Sa nakita natin, hindi ko lang masabi up to what extent, pero I'm sure it's a substantial degree na ganoon nga na virtually untouchable nga sila dahil ipino-protektahan din sila ng mga various gangs," she said.

High-profile inmates may also have threatened to endanger the families of some prison personnel.

"So 'pag tinatakot probably hindi nape-perahan o hindi nako-korap pero tinatakot, including their family, kaya tumatahimik na lang, nagbibingi-bingihan na lang, nagbubulag-bualagan na lang," De Lima explained.

She said Aquino was most alarmed after De Lima and about 100 government operatives entered the prison's Maximum Security Compound and seized firearms from some of the rooms.

"D'yan na-alarma nang husto ang ating pangulo. And in fact kanina inulit n'ya sa akin na, 'I really want know the source of the firearms at bakit nakapasok 'yan d'yan'," De Lima said.

The Justice secretary vowed that the ranks of the Bureau of Corrections as well as parties within the Department of Justice that will be held liable in the special treatment of inmates will lose their jobs.

"Talagang heads will roll, and in fact pinagusapan din namin 'yan kanina ng ating pangulo ... Are due process, [we will] really apply the full force [of the law]," she said.