Woman caught smuggling tobacco into Bilibid

MANILA, Philippines — A woman was reportedly caught attempting to smuggle tobacco products into the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City on Thursday.

Leilani Tividad was visiting an inmate in the maximum security compound when prison guards caught her with contraband during mandatory frisking. Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said 32 bars of tobacco inside a black kneepad were seized from Tividad.

Apart from the filing of criminal charges, the BuCor has banned Tividad from entering the prison facility again. Angelina Bautista, BuCor deputy director for operations, said they have intensified their campaign to rid the NBP of contraband brought in by visitors and even by their own personnel.

“We will continue to be vigilant, especially the BuCor personnel manning the search and inspection areas for incoming visitors of our persons deprived of liberty,” Bautista said in a statement.