(Eagle News) – Armed Forces chief of Staff General Eduardo Año confirmed that they wrote a report on alleged illegal and unauthorized fixtures inside the cell of high-profile inmates detained at the Camp Aguinaldo custodial center of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
He said that the AFP did regular checks at the Military Police Battalion Custodial Detention Center (MPBCDC) and part of the results of their investigation was to make a report about it which they already directed to the proper authority.
“Alam mo sa amin sa Armed Forces meron kaming tinatawag na security survey and inspection. This is done periodically to ensure that all facilities are safe from any espionage or any security compromise,” Año told reporters.
“So ‘yung portion na ‘yun as part of our job we made some observations and investigations and inspection and the appropriate measure or course of action will be through the proper authority like the Bureau of Corrections and the Department of Justice and we believe they have made appropriate actions already,” he added.
Año’s revelations were done in the face of allegations from Senator Leila De Lima that high profile inmates previously detained at the New Bilibid Prisons and transferred to the AFP had been enjoying special privileges such as cell phones, electronic gadgets, smart televisions, Internet access, and air-conditioning units.
On Wednesday, Senator Leila De Lima alleged that the inmates like Herbert Colanggo enjoy the privilege of cell phones, electronic gadgets, smart televisions, Internet access, and air-conditioning units.
The senator accused Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II of restoring these privileges in return for testifying against her alleged involvement in drug trafficking inside the New Bilibid Prisons.
This was however denied by Secretary Aguirre.
AFP public affairs office chief, Col. Edgard Arevalo, said that the military as already submitted a report to the Department of Justice.
“What I can tell you are our 3-point recommendation on that report: seizure of unauthorized fixtures and equipment; strict implementation of the MPBCDC referring to security; and the immediate installation of CCTV,” he said.
Arevalo said that the Bureau of Correction was in charge of the administration and management of the inmates, and thus had the determination and control on who will stay in the facility, the manner of transfer, as well as the determination of the guards who will be manned there.
Even the visitors and what will be allowed inside is in the control of the DOJ, Arevalo said.
“The AFP merely made a facility available for that purpose per memorandum of agreement between the Department of National Defense and DOJ,” he said. (with a report from Mar Gabriel, Eagle News Service)
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