Three prison officials sacked amid New Bilibid mess

Published December 19, 2014 5:25pm

Three prison officials were relieved from their posts on Friday after a series of surprise inspections that yielded contraband items in the national penitentiary's maximum security area.

According to GMA News TV's "Quick Response Team," relieved were National Bilibid Prison superintendent Roberto Rabo, assistant director for operations Celso Bravo, and Davao Penal Farm superintendent Venancio Tesoro, who was former NBP head.

Bureau of Corrections Director Chief Superintendent Franklin Bucayu confirmed the development to GMA News.

Initial investigation by the BuCor showed that issuances by the officials of passes to "big-time" inmates to bring in various items were questionable.

"Dahil dito, ang mga lumabas na merong papel, merong napirmahan yung mga alleged issuances o passes on the entry of these items, yung ang ating tinitingnan ngayon," said Bucayu.

"Sila yung mga nakapirma dito at sila yung nag-allow na makapasok diyan. Titingnan natin at iimbestigahan natin kung mali yung pagpasok."

Named OIC NBP superintendent was Superintendent Richard Schwarzkopf. Superintendent Rachel Ruelo, head of the Women's Correctional, was tapped to replace Rabo.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Geraldo Padilla will replace Tesoro as head of the Davao Penal Farm.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima led the surprise inspections at the NBP this week. Bucayu said there will be more raids inside Bilibid.

"Gaya ng sinabi ko, ito ay tuluy-tuloy at titignan 'yung takbuhun nito dahil 'yun na nga ang guidance ng ating Secretary of Justice na iayos ang pamumuhay at living condition doon na dapat 'yan ay pantay-pantay at pare-pareho sa loob ng ating piitan," he said.

'Actions above board'

In an interview, Bravo said that they will follow the orders of the DOJ.

"I must admit na medyo malungkot but we need to accept the fact that the Secretary has ordered an investigation," he said.

He also admitted that he signed passes for some electrical equipment when the Bilibid superintendent was on leave.

"Meron po akong pinirmahan na nakapagpapasok ng ilang electrical equipment. Ito po ang electrical fan, isang exhaust fan, at isang air cooler na electric fan kung saan nilalagyan ng yelo, at isang TV," Bravo said.

He said his actions were above board since the BuCor allows appliances inside the penitentiary provided they are for common use.

Bravo also stressed that they only inherited problems already present inside Bilibid.

"Kami po ang nag-initiate ng reforms po dito. Malaki po 'yung aming sakripisyo... Lalu-lalong na po ang hanay namin na nag-instill ng basic reforms. Minana po namin ang ganitong problema kaya po kami ang nagbibigay ng solusyon po dito," he said.

The Bilibid's assistant director for operations also said that they are victims of black propaganda to mar the reputation of the current officials of the penitentiary.

"Gusto pong makabalik ng ilang sector. Kung makakaupo po ulit ang kanilang mga amo ay magkakaroon na naman po ng pagkakataon na gawin 'yung mga illegal activities nila," Bravo revealed.

Bucayu, for his part, said that the he's willing to be investigated.

"Kung sa tinging nila tayo ay may negligence, meron tayong vinaiolate na policies, open tayo dito. That is the normal process of the government upang ma-ensure na ang objectives ng isang opisina ay na-a-attain," he said. —Joel Locsin/Trisha Macas/JST, GMA News

Tags: bureauofcorrections, robertorabo, celsobravo, venanciotesoro, newbilibidprison