Duterte: Drug trade back in Bilibid, reaches Davao Penal Colony

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday used his speech at the anniversary of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology as an opportunity to talk about the illegal drug trade in the country's penal system.

At the 26th anniversary of the BJMP, Duterte blamed mobile phones for the resurgence of the narcotics trade inside the New Bilibid Prison.

“Kaya diyan sa Bilibid, maski ano ang gawin natin, pasok nang pasok pa rin ang mga—and because ang droga bumalik na naman, allegedly about 400 kilos. That's the reason for that shootout with—somebody died there sa Muntinlupa because of this,” he said as he held up a mobile phone.

“Ito lang kasi ang kapital and I have to be frank mostly Chinese, ‘pag nakapasok ang cellphone diyan, negosyo talaga. Negosyo iyan. At hanggang ngayon, namatay na iyong iba, nabuhay, at bakit malakas na naman ang droga” he added.

Duterte had previously blamed Senator Leila De Lima, his fierce critic, for the proliferation of the drug trade inside the prison.

She is currently detained on drug charges, but Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II himself confirmed the narcotics trade is back in the NBP.

Duterte said some inmates of a prison in Davao del Norte are now involved in the illegal drug trade as well.

“And would you believe it? Sa tracking namin, pati Davao Penal Colony, may tatlo doong putris ka—nagnenegosyo. Sabagay, patay na. Sabi ko, 'Kawalang hiya nitong…'” he said.

Davao Penal Colony is the former name of Davao Prison and Penal Farm.

The BJMP, an attached agency of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, is in charge of city, municipal, and district jails as well as provincial jails through provincial governments.

The NBP and the Davao Penal Farm are run by the Bureau of Correction, an agency under the Department of Justice, in charge of national prisoners. —JST/KVD, GMA News