Four of the 18 policemen accused of smuggling contraband inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) will be formally charged and could face dismissal from the service, according to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) acting director PBrig. Gen. Debold Sinas.

Sinas said administrative charges are now being prepared against the cops for allegedly sneaking in alcohol, cigarettes and other prohibited items at the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) facility last 18 October.

“The maximum penalty for that is dismissal, medium penalty is one rank demotion, and the minimum penalty is two to six months suspension,” Sinas said in a press conference.

The 16 policemen were among the 551 police officers from the NCRPO’s Regional Mobile Force Company serving as force multipliers helping to secure the national penitentiary’s maximum security compound.

They were reportedly ordered by two other policemen to smuggle the contraband inside the prison.

All policemen facing investigation have been disarmed and are now under custody at the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Office of the NCRPO.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will continue to augment personnel in penal institutions throughout the country.

This was disclosed by Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, chief of the PNP Directorial Staff, who was recently given an award by the BuCor for lending his support to the successful demolition of illegal structures inside the NBP when he was still NCRPO chief.

“With the current leadership (of the PNP), they could approach us and tell us what kind of assistance they need not only at the NBP but also in other penal colonies,” Eleazar stated.