MANILA, Philippines — Around 320 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force troopers were deployed at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City on Wednesday to take over security there.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said that the SAF troopers will take over security posts in the prison for a few months while 200 NBP employees undergo retraining.
In a telephone interview with ANC, Aguirre said that NBP employees may be reassigned to other penal colonies across the country.
The Marines may take over security posts at the NBP and replace the SAF after two months, Aguirre said.
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"We want to make sure that there will be no familiarization," the Justice secretary said.
Marine Maj. Gen. Alexander Balutan will go on early retirement in August so that he can sit as the head of the Bureau of Corrections, replacing retired Army Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz.
Aguirre said that drastic measures will be taken at the NBP, including a thorough search of the the maximum security prison on Wednesday.
"The BuCor is the most corrupt agency in the entire bureaucracy," Aguirre said.
According to Aguirre, BuCor and Department of Justice officials received more than P100 million in bribes last year.
The Justice secretary claimed that big drug lords have offered him P100 million as a bribe and which he refused. Aguirre added that the drug lords have hired someone to kill him for P50 million since he would not accept the bribes.
Aguirre earlier said that he has the blessing of President Rodrigo Duterte to make drastic changes at the NBP.
READ: Incoming DOJ chief eyes drastic changes at BuCor