A total of 3,648.0268 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) and 60.3141 grams of cannabis have been confiscated from various operating prisons and penal farms (OPPF) across the country over the past three years, according to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor). The seizures were recorded under the term of Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr.

Catapang, citing BuCor data, said the confiscated illegal substances, covering the period from October 2023 to the present, came from five out of the seven OPPFs. These include: New Bilibid Prison – 2,166.2705 grams of meth and 58.6001 grams 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 grams of cannabis; and San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm – 1,032.7887 grams of meth. No confiscated items were reported from the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm and the Correctional Institution for Women.

He said the 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 to greyhound or galugad operations, enhanced monitoring, and strict inspection protocols implemented within BuCor facilities.

At the SPPF, where 461 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), including 122 foreigners — mostly convicted of illegal drug offenses — are confined at Pasugui Sub-Prison, Catapang reported that the focused security operations of Task Force “Sanib Pwersa,” involving BuCor, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, are already in place. He added that the deployment of an additional 75 personnel is pending to complete the 150-member commitment of the TG PNP, as previously assured by the NHQ-PNP.

He also disclosed that the operations of Task Force "Sanib Pwersa," combined with BuCor's installation of the latest-model CCTV system, under-vehicle surveillance system, and full-body scanner security system at Pasugui Sub-Prison — with no recorded confiscation of illegal drugs in recent months — have proven effective in deterring the entry of shabu into the compound.

By rigorously screening incoming visitors in all OPPFs, 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 the PDEA for proper disposition.

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

Last year, BuCor acquired 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 — eliminating the need for strip searches and manual cavity checks.