Ex-DOJ officials got Bilibid bribes? Inquiry begins

Justice chief orders SAF to stop entry of religious groups inside NBP

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to create a fact-finding committee to look into allegations that two former high-ranking officials of the DOJ received bribes from some convicts at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City so the latter could enjoy privileges, including their drug operations outside, while in prison.

In a press conference yesterday, DOJ Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II said the fact-finding committee will be composed of prosecutors and undersecretaries of the department.

However, Aguirre did not mention the names of the former DOJ officials who are among those to be investigated.

He said that the investigation will reach the highest posts at the DOJ.

Aguirre said that even the high officials at the NBP have already “been eaten up by the system of corruption” such that they seemed to have become beholden to

Secretary Aguirre says that millions of pesos were given as ‘protection money’ by the drug lords to the former officials of the DOJ and officials of the NBP According to DOJ chief, there are fake religious groups that entered the NBP to bring inside illegal drugs and prostitutes

the high-profile inmates.

The justice chief, meanwhile, has ordered the Special Action Force ( SAF) installed at the NBP to temporarily prohibit religious groups from conducting spiritual activities inside the national penitentiary.

This was after the DOJ, according to Aguirre, received reports that fake religious groups enter the NBP to bring in- side illegal drugs and prostitutes.

“I received information that some religious personnel preaching inside the Bilibid are conduits of illegal drugs and prostitution,” Aguirre said.

He added that just recently, the DOJ refused to grant the request of religious organization who would want to conduct a thanksgiving fellowship inside the NBP as it can affect the operation of SAF.

Aguirre said the information came from non-government organization and three jail guards from the Bilibid.

He said that the DOJ is now conducting investigation to know the extent of the connections of the drug lords inside the national penitentiary.

About 320 Philippine National Police SAF members are deployed to Bureau of Correctional.

They will monitor the activities inside the NBP while its the original NBP personnel are being retrained. (KC/Sunnex)