A female prison officer was immediately placed under preventive suspension Wednesday after she was caught attempting to smuggle illegal drugs into the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Gregorio Catapang Jr. ordered the suspension of Corrections Technical Officer 1 (CTO1) Melchora Wong, who was caught with two plastic sachets of suspected shabu, hidden inside a pouch of pandesal.

Wong was apprehended by Corrections Officer 1 (CO1) Benito Pancho during a routine inspection at the NBP Gate 1, Maximum Security Compound, around 7:30 a.m.

Following the initial bust, a follow-up operation led by Maximum Security Camp Commander Maj. Henry Avila netted more drugs.

Authorities confiscated 33 additional plastic sachets of suspected shabu from inmate Reineill T. Dizon at Dorm 5A. Dizon was reported to be a frequent visitor of Wong at the prison hospital.

Catapang ordered the immediate filing of formal charges against Wong. Conversely, Pancho, who made the initial apprehension, was given a spot promotion to the next higher rank.

His formal awarding ceremony is scheduled for the next flag-raising ceremony on Monday.

“These are the challenges that we have to face. We are not only guarding persons deprived of liberty but we also have to be vigilant against our own people,” Catapang said.

He also issued a renewed call for all corrections officers manning BuCor entry points to be alert and adhere to strict protocols, warning that the days are “numbered” for personnel who refuse to change their corrupt ways.