NBI chief: Claims of agents supplying phones to ‘Bilibid 19’ must be substantiated

National Bureau of Investigation Director Virgilio Mendez has challenged one of the "Bilibid 19" inmates to prove that NBI agents have been conspiring with detainees to sneak prohibited items like mobile phones into their detention cells at the NBI headquarters in Manila.

 

"Unless the allegations are substantiated, it is a pity for the bureau to be accused of this wrongdoing," Mendez told reporters, following accusations made by the inmate-informant that at least three NBI agents have provided the "Bilibid 19" access to communication devices in exchange for P1.5 million for each mobile phone.

 

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, while visiting the Bbilibid 19's detention cells, found out from the informant that the NBI agents would pretend to be inspecting the Bilibid 19's cells but instead would be sneaking in the mobile phones for the inmates. 

 

Two of the agents would be the ones handing out the phones, while a third one acts a "supervisor," meaning they could all be working for a much higher ranking official. 

 

De Lima has already ordered the NBI agents being implicated investigated.

 

Mendez emphasized that members of the Bureau of Corrections, and not NBI agents, are tasked to guard the Bilibid 19. NBI agents, he said, only visit the detention cells during surprise inspections.

 

"Remember, our task is to secure the perimeter  and the compound. The jail is an extension facility of the BuCor and it's manned by a team of Bucor guards," he said.

 

"If we noticed unusual movements from the inside through our closed circuit television camera, our officials will outrightly conduct surprise inspections," Mendez assured the public.

 

Following that raid where authorities confiscated contraband items like money and sex toys, the 19 prisoners were taken out of the national penitentiary and were supposed to have been transferred to Building 14 of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. 

 

Since bidding for the renovation of the high-security facility has yet to be done, the 19 have to be temporarily detained at the NBI headquarters. — JDS, GMA News