2 more advanced phone jammers to be installed at NBP's Building 14

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Sunday said two more advanced signal jammers will be installed next week at the New Bilibid Prison's (NBP) building, where high-profile inmates are detained.

Aguirre told radio dzBB that the two signal jammers have been released from the Bureau of Customs and may be installed either Monday or Tuesday of this coming week at the NBP's Building 14.

"Ang cost nito ay P2 million each. This is only for Building 14," he said, adding that the new signal jammers can block 3G- and LTE-capable mobile phones.

He said that not a single centavo of government money was used for the purchase of the two signal jammers, saying that the new equipment were donated by a "Good Samaritan."

Aguirre, meanwhile, appealed for more signal jammer donations. He said they would like to install more advanced signal jammers at the whole maximum security compound of the NBP.

The secretary admitted that despite the various raids conducted by the police's Special Action Force in the NBP, inmates are still able to smuggled in mobile phones.

He said that during the previous raids, the operatives have confiscated more than 2,000 mobile phones.

Aguirre had said that convicted drug lords detained in the NBP were able to continue their illegal operation through mobile phones.

The Department of Justice is currently investigating the alleged drug trade in the NBP, which allegedly flourished during the time of Sen. Leila de Lima when she was still justice secretary.

Aguirre has presented at least seven witnesses in the House of Representatives' Committee on Justice regarding the alleged drug trade inside the national penitentiary. —ALG, GMA News