Aguirre orders transfer of inmates within NBP

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has directed the return of inmates to their original detention facility and approved the transfer of prisoners within the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Under Department Order 496, Aguirre ordered the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to "immediately return" all inmates who were previously transferred from Building 14 to Maximum Security or Medium Security Compound, and from Maximum Security to Medium Security since December 1, 2016.

Building 14 houses high-profile inmates who allegedly control up to 75 percent of the illegal drug trade in the country that the government has vowed to dismantle.

Aguirre gave the BuCor 10 days to comply with his directive, which also includes the submission of a list and inventory of all inmates who were previously transferred to another detention facility.

The report should contain the reason for the transfer, date of transfer, original detention facility, and the detention facility to which they were transferred.

The Muntinlupa City-based prison facility currently holds 24,000 inmates. —Virgil Lopez/KBK/KVD, GMA News