Bato mulls strategy in dealing with imprisoned drug lords

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa vowed to adopt stronger measures in dealing with illegal drug operations at the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

Dela Rosa, tapped by President Duterte to lead the BuCor next year, said he is studying measures to prevent some inmates at prison facilities from doing their illicit activities.

“We will talk on what approach we will use. What we did in Oplan Tokhang was effective but the situation inside is different,” Dela Rosa said, referring to the controversial anti-drug campaign of the PNP that killed thousands of suspected drug offenders.

Dela Rosa on Friday visited the BuCor’s main office in Muntinlupa City to get a feel of the penal facility he would supervise after his scheduled retirement from the police force next year. He is scheduled to retire in January, but the President has extended his term for three more months.

While implementing Oplan Tokhang would be an option, Dela Rosa said this might not bring the same result where around 1.3 million suspected drug pushers and users surrendered to the government.

“How will you talk to someone who refuses to change?” Dela Rosa said, referring to the convicts. “It’s difficult. The direction we are pursuing is to remove the problem on drugs.”

Following reports of a resurgence in drug trafficking at the New Bilibid Prison, the government deployed Special Action Force commandos in the detention facility to deter convicts from plying their trade.

Six other prison facilities are under the jurisdiction of the BuCor. These are the Correctional Institution for Women, Davao Prison and Penal Farm, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm, Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm and Leyte Regional Prison.

A BuCor official said there are currently about 54,000 prisoners at the seven detention facilities.

For starters, Dela Rosa said he would initiate an internal cleansing program to remove corrupt officers and personnel in the BuCor.

The move is necessary, according to Dela Rosa, to prevent prisoners from conducting their illegal activities.

“Let’s be frank about it, the problem will not persist if there is no connivance between the prisoners and some people from the BuCor,” he said.

He added mere negligence on the part of some people in BuCor is also a factor in the persistence of illicit activities in detention facilities such as the NBP.

“If you are not guarding the activities of the people inside, that already is a contributory accessory to the crime,” Dela Rosa said.

He would push for increasing the salaries of BuCor employees.

Dela Rosa warned convicted drug traffickers to stop their illegal activities.

Dela Rosa told the prisoners he is a reasonable person and easy to get along with, but he has a warning to the drug lords inside the NBP who are still involved in drug trafficking.

“If you drug lords will still continue trafficking drugs, I will make your lives miserable,” he said. “If you will remain hardheaded, then we will test each other’s strength.”

Dela Rosa assured the prisoners he would treat them well if they follow regulations and refrain from getting involved in illegal activities.

“Just stay good and everything will be fine,” Dela Rosa told the prisoners and officials as the guest of honor and speaker of the NBP’s 112th Foundation Day last Friday.