(Eagle News) — The Palace on Thursday, March 7, said it backed the Bureau of Corrections’ decision to cancel all the privileges of inmates at the New Bilibid Prison and its other operating units.
In a press briefing in Malacanang, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the “temporary” cancellation of the privileges in the national penitentiary, Davao, Iwahig, San Ramon, Sablayan and Leyte prison and penal farms was aimed at preventing the proliferation of illegal drugs there.
BuCor Director General Nicanor Faeldon order, which took effect on March 5, came after Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra ordered the National Bureau of Investigation, assisted by the BuCor, to conduct a probe into the alleged illegal activities of NBP maximum security prisoner Rustico Ygot, so that the necessary charges against him and those who allow the same may be filed.
Guevarra issued the directive after Ygot’s alleged girlfriend Jocelyn Encila, who was arrested for alleged possession of P190 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu in Cebu, said her “contact” for the illegal drugs was Ygot.
“If it’s a privilege, it’s a privilege. You can lift that,” Panelo said.
The BuCor has said the cancellation will be lifted if the inmates have fully complied with the rules on contraband.