Pubdate: Fri, 26 Dec 2014
Source: Philippine Star (Philippines)
Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2014
Contact:  http://www.philstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622

CREDIBLE PROBE

If President Aquino wants to get the whole, unvarnished truth about
drug deals and luxurious privileges enjoyed by certain VIP inmates at
the New Bilibid Prison, it would be best to let another agency outside
the Department of Justice handle the probe. Or else he can give the
Office of the Ombudsman a free hand in its ongoing probe, with orders
for the DOJ and its agencies including the Bureau of Corrections and
NBP to extend full cooperation.

Teams from several law enforcement agencies raided the NBP in the wake
of strong suspicions that drug trafficking in Metro Manila was being
operated from the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa. The raid
uncovered not just shabu, drugs and millions in cash but also the
atrociously comfortable detention facilities enjoyed by several
convicted drug lords. The plush accommodations were on top of regular
hospital stays outside the NBP, complete with starlets for
entertainment, enjoyed by certain prisoners.

The raid, followed by two more amid reports that NBP personnel had
misled the first raiding team, fueled questions on how high up
culpability should go. Officials of the NBP and BuCor, who hold office
within the Bilibid reservation in Muntinlupa, have to be either
incredibly clueless or incredibly corrupt for villa-type detention
cells to be built, complete with carpeting, air-conditioning, a sauna,
Jacuzzi and even a personal live music area.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima quickly announced that she did not
believe BuCor chief Franklin Bucayu was in cahoots with the VIP
prisoners. De Lima may be right, but the conclusion will have
credibility if given by an official with no direct supervision over
the BuCor.

The President should also not discount the possibility that even
certain DOJ officials may be held liable, at the very least for
administrative lapses. The drug convicts, under suspicion for new
offenses, can be turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
for interrogation. PDEA agents are among those who have long
complained about drug deals operated from within the NBP.

Department heads are not the most reliable probers of their own
agencies. We saw what happened when Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio
Abaya was tasked to look into reports of anomalous transactions in the
Metro Rail Transit under Al Vitangcol. President Aquino, who professes
to follow the straight path, should want to see a better probe in the
case of the drug lords in the NBP.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D