16 NCRPO cops who tried to slip in contraband items at the NBP in hot water; Sinas orders probe




(Eagle News) — At least 16 police officers deployed to the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) are now being investigated for allegedly trying to slip contraband items in and out of the supposedly high security prison in Muntinlupa City.

NCRPO acting chief Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas refused to name the police officers involved but stressed that “discipline must prevail.”

The said policemen have already reported to the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD) of the NCRPO. They will be reassigned to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit during the investigation.

“We will never tolerate this illegal activity; Discipline must prevail… This is saddening but we will not concede. This is just one of our continuing challenges. We will not relent on our reforms to cleanse our organization,” Sinas said.

The policemen were told to submit their respective counter-affidavits until Wednesday (October 23).

The 16 policemen were among the 551 NCRPO personnel sent earlier by former NCRPO chief Major Gen. Guillermo Eleazar upon the request of newly-designated Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) director Gerald Bantag.

Sinas said that he would replace the NCRPO cops sent to the NBP every month as a way to prevent a repeat of what happened to the 16 policemen.

But the NCRPO acting chief said that the 16 cops allegedly caught slipping contraband items inside the NBP would be given a chance to be heard.

“Let us also observe their rights to be investigated. Huwag natin agad silang ikondena. Bigyan natin sila ng chance na magpaliwanag (Let us not condemn them. Give them a chance to explain themselves),” he said.

The 16 cops allegedly tried to slip liquor, electronic gadgets, and tobacco inside the NBP.

The contraband items seized from them were placed under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) custody for proper disposition.

Sinas said the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD) of NCRPO would submit its evaluation of the case, possibly on Friday, Oct. 25.