By Mar Gabriel
Eagle News Service
Bureau of Corrections Director Ronald Dela Rosa said he was implementing “anti-tambay” operations in the New Bilibid Prison to curb illegal drug activities there.
Dela Rosa made the pronouncement amid allegations of human rights violations in the Philippine National Police’s campaign against loiterers.
But President Rodrigo Duterte, who ordered the police to intensify these operations, noted that loiterers were not actually arrested.
PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde said they were only apprehended if they violated ordinances or other laws.
According to Dela Rosa, under the operations, a curfew was in place from 10 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. in the national penitentiary.
“Ginawa ko yan dahil alam natin na yung kalakaran ng droga nangyayari sa gabi,” he said, noting that those involved in illegal drug activities resorted to all sorts of tricks to continue with their operations.
For instance, he said there was an instance the drugs were transported via a slingshot, over the jail fence.
According to Dela Rosa, apart from these operations, members of the PNP Special Action Force conduct surprise inspections of the inmates’ belongings under Oplan Ukay Ukay.
He said some members of the elite force were also deployed to Building 14, where convicted big-time drug lords were committed.