Inmates with ‘lavish kubols’ to be returned to simpler cells in Bilibid –De Lima

The inmates who were found to have put up "lavish" kubols (makeshift shelters) inside the maximum security unit of the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) will be returned to a simpler facility currently being renovated, Justice Sec. Leila de Lima said Wednesday.

At a House hearing, De Lima said Building 14, formerly used for death row convicts, is currently being renovated and will house the 19 inmates found to be operating their drug syndicates from inside the prison.

The inmates are currently under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation, which she said has "been pleading" for the inmates' return to NBP.

"Kailangan nang ibalik sa National Bilibid Prisons [ang inmates dahil] it really is an added burden to the NBI that they have to house such group of drug inmates. It takes a toll on their manpower and resources, especially during holiday breaks, wherein kailangan nilang mag-assign ng tao," De Lima said.

She said, however, that the inmates will not be brought back to their former site within the NBP. "Kung ibabalik namin sila doon, it's only a matter of time na mag-set up sila ng kubol ulit."

Instead, Building 14 is being renovated for their cells.

As of her inspection there on Tuesday, De Lima said, "May tinatapos pang roofings. Wala silang ventilation, so pinalalagyan."

She said the inmates will no longer be able to construct lavish areas there.

"These are cells, not kubols, and it will be impossible for them to set up, since it is for two inmates per cell, double deck," De Lima said.

Meanwhile, De Lima reported to the House committee on dangerous drugs during the hearing that the drug problem inside the NBP has "significantly reduced" since the raid that discovered the extravagant lifestyles of drug lords operating inside prison.

"It has significantly reduced, significantly resolved na within the NBP. I cannot tell you it's 100 percent free of drugs, but a lot of efforts have been exerted to address this problem," she said.

"Talaga hong hinihigpitan, pero meron pa ring nahuhuli paminsan-minsan," De Lima added.

Among the steps undertaken to address the issue is a more stringent security process at Gate 4, where visitors enter and exit, and disallowing communication devices such as cellphones and tablets inside. —KBK, GMA News