A female visitor of an inmate at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City was arrested after she tried to smuggle illegal drugs concealed inside her private parts, the Bureau of Corrections said yesterday.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said Rhea Mercado was apprehended last Tuesday afternoon at the NBP’s Maximum Security Compound.
Mercado was a registered visitor of inmate Edgardo Mercado.
Citing a report from NBP Supt. Roger Boncales, Catapang said jail guards became suspicious of Mercado after she exhibited reluctance to undergo the necessary security procedures, specifically X-ray body scanning.
After expressing discomfort and requesting to use the restroom, Catapang said Mercado was observed by a guard trying to dispose of a suspicious object.
This prompted the jail guard to intervene, leading to the recovery of a condom containing a white crystalline substance, suspected to be illegal drugs.
The confiscated items were brought to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Forensic Laboratory for further analysis, while Mercado was taken to the Muntinlupa police headquarters for processing.
Catapang said this incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by correctional facilities in preventing drug smuggling and maintaining security within their walls.
“As we continue to address these security issues, the case serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against drug-related activities and the measures necessary to protect correctional facilities from exploitation,” the BuCor chief added.
Last year, BuCor acquired two full-body scanners capable of detecting items ingested or hidden under clothing, including concealed contraband inside visitors’ bodies.
Catapang said this enhances the security process at the national penitentiary while reducing the need for invasive strip searches and manual cavity checks, which can be uncomfortable and time-consuming for both visitors and personnel.
Police seized P149,600 worth of suspected dangerous drugs and arrested six persons in a buy-bust operation in Rodriguez, Rizal last Tuesday.
Police identified the suspects as alias Clide, 40; Tantan, 27; TJ, 38; Jan Jan, 20; and Tenten, 21, residents of Rodriguez, Rizal; and Erl, 33, of Quezon City.
Seized from them were several sachets containing more or less 22 grams of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia. – With Christian Oineza
