Lawmakers visit Bilibid for hearing on prison issues

The House justice committee will tackle in a hearing on Tuesday the alleged bribery of Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officials by some convicted drug lords at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) to transfer inmates from rival drug syndicates to penal colonies. Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, committee vice-chairperson, said the reported bribery of prison executives and the alleged operations of drug syndicates at the NBP will be discussed in the hearing which will be held at the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City. “We would be playing deaf and dumb if we won’t [tackle those]," he told GMA News Online in a text message. Members of the House justice panel are also expected to inspect the 536-hectare prison facility to check the security in the area. The House panel hearing, which will focus on a measure seeking to improve the BuCor, stemmed from the arrest of convicted former Batangas Governor Jose Antonio Leviste, who was allowed to leave prison last month even without a pass. Justice Secretary Leila De Lima and NBP chief Superintendent Ramon Reyes are expected to serve as resource persons in Tuesday’s hearing. De Lima said Monday that she has received reports that some BuCor officials may have been given P2 million- to P5 million-bribes by convicted drug lords to relocate rival prisoners to far-flung penal colonies. A technical working group formed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) is also set to conduct a separate investigation on the alleged corruption in the NBP. - VVP, GMA News