NBP guards seize more contraband

MANILA, Philippines - Jail guards conducted yesterday another search operation in several dormitories at the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City and seized television sets, refrigerators, bladed weapons, cell phones and other contraband.

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Ricardo Rainier Cruz III ordered the continuing operations to confiscate weapons and other illegal items that were smuggled into the prison complex by high profile inmates.

NBP Superintendent Richard Schwarzkopf said the jail guards were conducting an inventory of seized items after search and recovery operations in five dormitories occupied by various prison gangs in the maximum security compound.

“We have confiscated refrigerators, television sets, cell phones and other electronic gadgets and bladed weapons,” he said.

It was the third raid conducted this month. The first was made in the dormitory of Commando and Sigue-Sigue Sputnik gangs where a large cache of firearms was found buried in one of the detention cells.

The prison guards also seized cell phones, television sets, air conditioning units and even sex toys from the cells.

“The sweeping operation will continue until we clear the maximum security compound of guns, illegal drugs and other contraband,” Schwarzkopf said.

Former justice secretary Leila de Lima initiated the search of the NBP prison cells last year and discovered various illegal items including guns, appliances, and illegal drugs.

The raid prompted De Lima to order the transfer of 19 high-value inmates to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) jail in Manila.

The inmates were returned to the NBP recently after a new high security facility with separate cells was completed.

More than 50 high-value inmates that include convicted drug lords and murderers are detained in the prison.

At least 14,000 convicts are detained in the nine-hectare NBP compound.