Bilibid on ‘lockdown’ as SAF men inspect prison compound

The New Bilibid Prison (NBP) was placed on a "complete lockdown" on Saturday as members of the police's elite Special Action Force (SAF) conducted a second "Oplan Galugad" at the detention facility in Muntinlupa City.

The police commandos, in full tactical gear, entered the prison earlier in the day to search the NBP's maximum security compound of contraband.

A report by John Consulta on Balitanghali said that around noon, the SAF members were searching Quadrant 4 of the NBP.

Patrol vehicles, armored personnel carriers and a police ambulance vehicle have entered the prison compound.

Consulta also reported that the regular prison guards guarding the NBP's gates have been totally replaced by heavily armed SAF men.

The report added that more than 100 relatives of the inmates have been barred from entering the prison compound due to the lockdown and the inspection.

Consulta said that the marching order for the SAF men was to perform a thorough, day-long search at possible spots where contraband may still be stashed inside the prison facility.

NBP Superintendent Roberto Rabo and other officials have yet to give statements or details on the ongoing operations.

Reports said that the firearms of the regular prison guards were seized during the inspection.

At least 100 SAF men were initially deployed to the NBP compound last week.

Officials said that the police commandos will secure critical detention facilities within the prison compound, including those housing high-profile inmates. —Rie Takumi/ALG, GMA News