By Kristine Joy V. Patag
Reporter

AMID the reported “resurgence” of the illegal drug trade inside the national penitentiary, top officials of the government on early Thursday morning of Thursday trooped to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) to conduct a surprise inspection under the name “Oplan Galugad.’

The surprise inspection in detention cells of Building 14 and Maximum and Medium Security Compound was led by Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald M. Dela Rosa. The operation started as early as 4:00 a.m., Justice Undersecretary Erickson H. Balmes said in a message to reporters.

Messrs. Aguirre and Dela Rosa were accompanied by PNP Special Action Forces (SAF) Head, General Benjamin Macli-ing Lusad, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Isidro S. Lapeñas, and Justice Undersecretary for Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Antonio T. Kho.

Early in July, Mr. Aguirre flagged a resurgence of the illegal drug trade inside the national penitentiary. He added that members of the PNP-SAF may have been “tainted” by the illegal trade.

In an ambush interview yesterday, he said authorities recently discovered “kubol” or shelters for high-profile inmates.

Citing a report by Mr. Lusad, Mr. Aguirre said: “May nakita na silang mga kubol doon na bagong gawa lamang. Siguro mga ilang linggo pa lamang ginagawa but may aircon, airconditioned, nasa Medium.” (They saw shelters that were fairly new, maybe set up just a few weeks ago, but there was airconditioning inside that medium [security compound].)

Mr. Aguirre said the “kubol” will be immediately dismantled.

Among those currently detained in the medium security compound are high-profile inmates and convicted drug lords Vicente Sy, Jojo Baligad and Peter Co.

Mr. Aguirre on Monday ordered the transfer of some of the inmates from the medium security compound to the maximum security compound, but this became subject to an appeal by a lawyer of the inmates.

Francis Acejas III, lawyer of Baligad, Co and other inmates, as well as Hans Tan and Froilan Trestiza, said his clients are asking Mr. Aguirre to reconsider his transfer order, citing their safety. Mr. Acejas said there is a possibility that the inmates may recant their earlier statements against former Justice Secretary, now detained Senator Leila M. De Lima on her alleged involvement in the drug trade.

But Mr. Aguirre said the transfer will push through. He further dismissed Mr. Acejas’s claims, saying, “May nagsabi sakin na hindi sya abogado ng kahit sino doon.” (Someone told me he is not the lawyer of anyone among the inmates.)

Mr. Acejas was sought for comment but has yet to reply as of this reporting.

Mr. Aguirre added that his department has requested the assistance of elite members of the police force to guard the high-profile inmates in the maximum security compound.

The Justice department, however, has yet to release the names of the inmates to be transferred.

In a related development, Mr. Aguirre in a department order said he will assume supervision of the BuCor following what he said was the “indefinite leave” of BuCor Director-General Benjamin C. Delos Santos.

But Mr. Delos Santos resigned on July 13, saying his resignation was irrevocable and citing the resurgence of the drug trade as the reason for his resignation.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who appointed Mr. Delos Santos, has yet to accept his resignation. Mr. Delos Santos then filed an indefinite leave.

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