Another luxury ‘kubol’ torn down in Bilibid

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) demolished another luxury “kubol” formerly used by a high-profile convict during yesterday’s raid on the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Jaybee Sebastian’s dwelling had an entertainment room, where a punching bag and a bed were found. The NBP said Sebastian’s was the fourth luxury kubol demolished in the 16th raid conducted on the state penitentiary since November under “Oplan Galugad.”

Sebastian is being held at Building 14, which has been renovated to house high-risk and high-profile convicts. The building used to house the execution chamber for inmates on death row.

Sebastian was convicted by the Manila regional trial court in 2009 for two counts of kidnapping ransom and sentenced to serve two life sentences.

BuCor agents also raided dormitories belonging to members of the Commando Gang and seized 17 bladed weapons, two batons, four fan knives and a steel pipe, NBP superintendent Richard Schwarzkopf Jr. said.

The raiding team also confiscated 10 digital video disc players, two LED televisions, 21 analog televisions, a foot spa device, two microphones, 16 mobile phones, 35 mobile phone chargers, six headphones and two USB flash drives.

In the NBP’s recent series of raids on prison dormitories, authorities have managed to confiscate guns, explosives, liquor, mobile phones, a radio-controlled toy helicopter, sex toys and television sets.

BuCor Director Ricardo Rainier Cruz III had earlier ordered the continuing raids and searches to confiscate weapons and other illegal items being smuggled into the prison.

A previous surprise search done last December at the dormitory of Commando and Sigue-Sigue Sputnik gangs led to the seizure of a large cache of firearms buried in one of the cells.

More than 50 high-value inmates, including convicted drug lords and murderers, are detained in the prison. At least 14,000 convicts are detained in the nine-hectare NBP compound.