BuCor fully backs strengthened collab in fight vs illegal drugs
THE Bureau of Corrections fully supports the national government’s efforts to strengthen the collaboration for the administration’s fight against illegal drugs.
Bucor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. disclosed that despite the stringent measures in place, the bureau continous to encounter entry of contraband such as dangerous drugs, and drug paraphernalia, in its prison facilities.
Catapang said the need for collaboration with other government agencies is a vital approach in resolving the complex issues of drug use and trafficking in BuCor facilities and that was the reason why he signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) sometime in April this year.
The inter agency collaborative group which had an operation center and barracks inside the New Bilibid Prison compound though lacking in equipments was formed to concentrate on intelligence gathering, monitoring, and taking action to prevent drug-related activities inside the New Bilibid Prison and other operating prison and penal farms in the country.
Catapang said that this is the same group called yesterday by Justice Secretary Crispin “Boying” Remulla that were given strategic guidelines and marching orders on how to address the issues of illegal drugs.
In fact, we will conduct an inter-agency meeting to implement a more effective, hardened approach to eliminate the use of communication equipments inside the prison facilities, Catapang added.
On the statement of Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla Jr. that the Marcos administration’s campaign against illegal drugs would focus on the supply side, Catapang said that his agency will fully support this endeavor.
The BuCor chief noted that 70 to 80 percent of the more than 52,000 PDLs nationwide are in prison due to drug-related cases.
Citing the report by NBP Acting Superintendent Corrections Chief Inspector, Roger Boncales, Catapang disclosed that from July 21, 2023 to October 12, 2024, a total of 1,806 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) were transferred from NBP in Muntinlupa City to Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Mindoro which included 170 Chinese nationals mostly linked to drug-related cases.
Intelligence reports disclosed that there are various criminal organizations involved in the illegal drug trade in the country namely:
* Chinese Triads. These are transnational organized crime syndicates from China that are involved in illegal drug trafficking in the Philippines. They have been linked to various drug smuggling activities across the region.
* Mexican Cartels – While not as prominent, some Mexican cartels, such as the Sinaloa Cartel, have reportedly been attempting to establish a presence in the Philippines, primarily for methamphetamine trafficking.
* Local Criminal Syndicates – Several local syndicates in the Philippines are involved in drug trafficking. These groups are often linked to political figures, law enforcement, and other societal sectors, making eradication efforts more complex.
* Ties to Rebel Groups – Certain rebel and terrorist groups, like the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Abu Sayyaf Group, have been suspected of engaging in drug trafficking to fund their activities.
