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De Lima holds surprise inspection at Bilibid, finds Jacuzzi, aircon, suspected drugs


(Updated 10:43 a.m.) A Jacuzzi, a sound system, an air-conditioner system and suspected drugs—these were among the amenities discovered inside the New Bilibid Prison during a surprise inspection Monday morning.
 
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima led the surprise inspection of facilities at the New Bilibid Prison, radio dzBB's Mao dela Cruz reported.
 
The inspection came amid reports that drug lords incarcerated in the penitentiary still managed to conduct transactions.
 
A total lockdown of the prison was implemented during the visit, radio dzBB's Mao dela Cruz reported.

Following the inspection, de Lima ordered the temporary relocation of 20 drug lords from the penitentiary to an undisclosed holding facility in Metro Manila, GMA News' John Consulta reported.



Meanwhile, photos tweeted by dzBB's dela Cruz showed LCD TV sets, and band equipment including keyboards and a drum set in one of the inspected cells.


 
 
It was not immediately clear if the lockdown included jamming mobile phone signals as dzBB's dela Cruz noted having problems using mobile phones when inside the facility.
 
It had been suggested earlier that jammers be used at the penitentiary to thwart drug lords who supposedly still managed to conduct transactions despite being locked up.
 
But former NBP head Dionisio Santiago said he encountered the problem as early as 2004—and did not quite succeed when using jammers.
 
"May nakakaalam kung paano ida-damage 'yan... May mga (information technology) people diyan. So alam nila kung paano ito idi-disable," he said in an interview on "24 Oras." —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News
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