BuCor prison farms yield illicit harvest

The intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), under the leadership of Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr., yielded 3,648.0268 grams (3.648 kilos) methamphetamine, commonly known as shabu, and 60.3141 grams of cannabis from various operating prison and penal farms nationwide since he took office three years ago.

Catapang, citing BuCor data, said the confiscated illegal substance covering October 2023 to present came from five out of the seven OPPF namely, the New Bilibid Prison — 2166.2705 grams of meth and 58.6001 of cannabis; Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF) — 26.7488 grams of meth; Leyte Regional Prison — 8.7621 grams of meth; Davao Prison and Penal Farm — 410.2696 grams of meth and 1.7140 of cannabis, and San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm — 1032.7887 grams of meth. No reported confiscated items were reported from Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm and Correctional Institution for Women.

He said figures are not just numbers, they represent a concerted effort to curb the flow of illegal drugs into facilities designed for rehabilitation rather than further entrenchment in criminal behavior.

The success of the anti-illegal drugs campaign was attributed by Catapang through greyhound or galugad operations, enhanced monitoring and strict inspection protocols implemented within BuCor facilities.

In SPPF, where 461 PDLs including 122, mostly foreigners convicted of illegal drugs confined at Pasugui-Sub Prison, Catapang reported that the focused security operations of Task Force “Sanib Pwersa” involving BuCor, Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, National Bureau of Investigation and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency are already in placed and is awaiting the deployment of an additional 75 personnel to complete the 150 composition of TG PNP as previously committed by the NHQ-PNP.

He also disclosed that the focused security operations of TF “Sanib-Pwersa” coupled with the BuCor’s installation of latest-model-CCTV System, Under Vehicle Surveillance System, and Full-Body Scanner Security System at Pasugui Sub-Prison—without recorded confiscation of illegal drugs for the past months proved deterring the entry of meth or shabu at the said compound.

By rigorously screening incoming visitors in all OPPF, BuCor aims to reduce the chances of illegal substances making their way into the hands of inmates. This proactive approach is critical in reversing the trend of drug-related issues inside prisons, Catapang said.

All confiscated illegal drugs were turned over to PDEA for proper disposition.

Despite the achievements, Catapang added, the battle against illegal drugs within prison walls remains fraught with challenges since the ongoing ingenuity of those determined to smuggle substances into facilities poses a constant threat so it requires BuCor to remain vigilant and adaptable.

The BuCor last year bought two full-body scanners designed to detect contraband items concealed under clothing, ingested, or hidden in body cavities as part of its strategy to enhance security and transparency within its facilities.BuCor prison farms yield illicit harvest