Catapang: 100 BuCor personnel relieved amid probe over contrabands

Around 100 personnel of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) have been relieved from their posts while they are being investigated over contrabands retrieved from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said Monday.

In an ambush interview, Catapang said around 20 were officers.

“For investigation sila. Relieved sila ng position. They are just required to stay in their barracks para kung kailangan ipatawag sila, they are available for investigation,” Catapang said.

(They are being investigated. They have been relieved. They are just required to stay in their barracks so they will be available for investigation in case they need to be called.)

He said those relieved from their posts still receive their salaries.

“Ganon talaga eh. Hindi mo naman pwedeng, kapag without pay baka tumakas yan,” Catapang said.

(It’s just that way. You can’t remove their pay because they might escape.)

Asked what kind of contrabands are being smuggled, Catapang said the PDLs are smuggling whatever may pass inspection.

“Hanggang makapasok. ‘Di ba pinagbawal ang alak. Ngayon naman ang ginamit yung yeast, yung pang gawa ng tinapay, ginawang lambanog,” Catapang said.

(As long as it can enter. Remember that we have banned alcohol. Now, they are using yeast, the material to make bread, to create lambanog.)

“Pinagbawal ang drugs, ngayon naman panay kalapati naman yung pinag aalaga nila doon. Tapos sinasanay yung kalapati nandoon sa hawla,” he added.

(We banned drugs, now they are training pigeons.)

On Sunday, BuCor announced that a group of PDLs surrendered a hand grenade, three improvised shotguns, shotgun cartridges, two grinders, two metal pipes, twelve improvised long-bladed weapons, 49 short-bladed weapons, and eighteen ice picks. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News