DRUG TRADE FLOURISHES IN NEW BILIBID PRISONS

An illegal drug trade, largely fueled by drug dependent inmates, flourishes
inside the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City, The Manila Times has
learned.

Security personnel interviewed by The Times said prison officials earn over
millions of pesos a month from the sale of metamphetamine hydrochloride,
more popularly known as shabu.

Records obtained by The Times showed that on June 12, 2001 prison guards
conducting routine patrol inspection inside maximum security compound
seized from inmate Lolito Salino seven medium-sized plastic sachets
containing an undetermined quantity of shabu inside an empty Vicks vapor
rub container.

Laboratory examination conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation
showed that the "crystalline substance" was indeed shabu with a total net
weight of 2.9213 grams. When The Times asked how much shabu actually gets
through the security inspection of the prison guards, the source declined
to elaborate.

Biggest Shabu Haul

The biggest seizure of shabu took place inside the maximum security
compound on May 19, 2001, when a chief prison guard and his men confiscated
128.1048 grams of shabu from inmate Jose Ang Sy whose quarters Dorm 9-D13
is next to Ambet Antonio's.

Sy is serving a life term for illegal drugs.

When they were to submit the shabu to the NBI for a laboratory test, one of
NBP Director Ricardo Macala's men bluntly told them: "Direktor will just
give you P500,000."

The guards said they rejected the offer and had the item tested. The Times
was furnished papers confirming that the 128.1048 grams of shabu seized
from Sy topped the list of Confiscated/Surrendered Prohibited Drugs from
January to November 2001.

Aside from shabu, an undetermined amount of marijuana sticks were also
confiscated.

Macala Knew About Shabu

In an earlier interview, Macala said he had no knowledge about the May 19
shabu seizure. He even called the reports as "another smear campaign
against me."

"We have an electronic monitoring device, all activities are
recorded," Macala told The Times. The electronic monitoring device is a
series of computer-controlled surveillance cameras designed to monitor
activities inside the prison.

However, a certificate dated May 29, 2001 commending the prison guards who
confiscated the 128.1048 grams of shabu signed by Macala showed that he did
know about the confiscated shabu, contrary to what he claimed earlier.

Firearms Galore

Aside from drugs, wealthy inmates reportedly bring in their own handguns
inside the maximum security compound of the prison. Even explosives such as
grenades have been found within the prison premises, according to records
covering the period of January to November last year. Topping the list of
firearms seized from inmates were 12-gauge shotgun shells, .38- caliber
revolvers, grenades, and sumpaks (improvised shotguns).

"They sell the weapons to the gangs," the source told The Times.