PNP chief Bato dela Rosa still stands by SAF security in Bilibid

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa still trusts the elite Special Action Force commandos assigned at the New Bilibid Prison despite the stabbing incident there that left one Chinese drug lord dead and other inmates wounded.

In an interview on Wednesday night, Dela Rosa maintained that he is willing to put his name on the line on the matter.

"They are still the best sa mga tao ko, yung SAF na yan. I stand by them. Kung sila ay nagkakamali, I am willing to put my neck on the line kapag sinasabi ninyo may ginawa silang hindi [dapat] ginagawa," he said.

Chinese drug lord Tony Co died in the stabbing incident inside Building 14 of NBP, while other high-profile inmates Jaybee Sebastian, Peter Co, and Vicente Sy were injured. 

One version claimed by inmate Clarence Dongail claimed he saw Peter Co, Tony Co, and Sy having a shabu session inside the mess hall.

Dongail then claimed he was attacked by Tony Co after reprimanding them, which started the riot. However, first responders from the Bureau of Investigations found no illegal drugs in the crime scene.

Another version both by Sebastian and Peter Co said the incident started when Dongail invited Peter Co and Sy to Tony Co's sleeping quarters.

Sebastian, who was watching TV in the mess hall, claimed seeing Dongail talking with Tomas Domeña before he (Sebastian) was stabbed by the latter (Domeña). Dongail attacked the three other inmates.

Oplan Galugad

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa clarified the SAF already confiscated numerous contraband in their first Oplan Galugad since handling the security of NBP in July, to the extent of imposing a full lockdown for the operation. 

"Nung pumasok ang SAF nag-Galugad sila doon, marami silang? nakuha. Afterwards nag-Galugad ulit sila, meron na naman silang nakuha," Dela Rosa said, adding the elite police force cannot just strip the walls of the compound.

"Yung buong Building 14 na yan or maximum na yan hindi mo talaga madi-dig inch by inch na kalkalkin mo talaga inch by inch ng lupa, ng? walls. Otherwise babagsak yung building na yan,' he said.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III admitted in a interview on GMA News TV's News to Go on Wednesday the SAF has not completely wiped out drugs in NBP, saying authorities only seized 90 percent of the contraband. 

For his part, Dela Rosa noted the abilities of the inmates to hide contraband in the penitentiary but stressed the SAF has since controlled its entry.

"Magaling magtago yung? mga tao diyan. Kaya nga nalulusutan pa rin, pero as far as the entry of contraband is concerned, alam ko na talagang hindi na iyon nakakapasok," the PNP chief said.

Dela Rosa added the presence of contraband inside NBP may have entered before the SAF came in.

"Siguro dati na yun nakapasok sa loob na hindi nila nakalkal somewhere? yung mga contrabands na iyon dahil hindi mo talaga magigiba yung buong building," he said. — RSJ, GMA News