THE Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) yesterday transferred 300 Bilibid inmates serving time due to drug-related offenses to a secure facility at the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF) in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.
The Department of Justice has ordered the BuCor to consolidate all inmates convicted of drug-related offenses into a single prison facility with super maximum security and ensure that they will not be capable of continuing their narcotics activities while detained.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said they initially planned to transfer 100 inmates to the Sablayan facility late last week but this was postponed due to inclement weather.
The 300 inmates were transported using 10 buses contracted by BuCor under tight security of some 90 BuCor personnel, including its own SWAT team, medical personnel and a team from the Muntinlupa police.
“This transfer is part of BuCor’s intensified anti-illegal drug campaign, aligning with the administration’s bloodless drug campaign,” Catapang said.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has earlier ordered Catapang to speed up the transfer of detained high-profile drug personalities to regional prisons.
The directive came after Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla disclosed that the bulk of the country’s supply of illegal drugs come from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
The DILG chief said authorities have identified at least 200 high-profile detainees who should be transferred to the super maximum facility.
BuCor data show that 70 to 80 percent of the more than 52,000 inmates nationwide are in prison due to drug-related cases.
Catapang bared that from July 21, 2023 to October 12, 2024, some 1,806 inmates have been transferred from the NBP to the Sablayan jail, including 170 Chinese nationals linked to drug-related cases.
Aside from relocating inmates convicted of drug-related offenses, Catapang also issued an order banning the use of cellphones without exception to all BuCor commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers, civilian staff, visitors, and anyone entering the premises of BuCor offices, the NBP and various operational prisons and penal farms across the country.
In addition, Catapang said he has also instructed his superintendents to carry out regular inspections of facilities, including unscheduled checks of prison dormitories and workspaces occupied by BuCor personnel to identify any prohibited items.
