Aguirre tells NBP inmates to behave

With the imminent transfer of Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II warned new inmates in the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City against illegal activities in the national penitentiary.

“Don’t get involved in any mess or anomalous activities here. Don’t get involved in illegal drug operations here,” he told some 1,800 inmates who are spending their first Christmas in NBP.

Aguirre stressed that President Duterte is serious in eradicating the illegal drug trade in the country, which authorities earlier found to operate from the national penitentiary.

“It is President Duterte’s mission to really stamp out the drug menace in the Philippines,” pointed the Department of Justice (DOJ) chief, who led an outreach program for the new inmates Wednesday night.

Sen. Leila de Lima was indicted earlier this year for allegedly benefiting from the illegal drug trade in the national penitentiary, as admitted by several high-profile inmates.

He, however, did not say whether Dela Rosa, who is reportedly set to be appointed as BuCor director early next year, would bring his Plan Tokhang to the NBP.

Aguirre only asked inmates to cooperate with NBP authorities as he assured them that good behavior would be rewarded and result in their earlier release from prison.

“Don’t lose hope. Under the new law on good conduct and time allowance, good conduct and spending time will be the key for your early release,” he said.