De Lima to gang leaders: Surrender contrabands or we’ll turn NBP ‘upside down’

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday warned to turn the New Bilibid Prison "upside down" if gang leaders will not surrender all remaining contrabands in the facility before Christmas.

During her second raid of the national penitentiary on Friday, De Lima held a closed-door meeting with leaders of the 12 gangs or "barangays" to tell them they have until December 24 to turn over prohibited items at the maximum security compound.

“I gave them an ultimatum until December 24 to produce the contrabands. Deretsuhan na tayo. Naniniwala kami na mayroon pa diyan, either mga sarili na tinatago or pinatago sa kanila,” she said.

De Lima led a surprise raid at the NBP last Monday that led to the confiscation of illegal and prohibited items inside inmates' makeshift  shelters or "kubols," among them illegal drugs, cash, jewelry, sex toys, and firearms.

De Lima said she and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) decided to go back for a second raid because they believe there were other remaining and concealed contrabands that authorities failed to round up during the first raid.

“Huwag na natin pahirapan sarili natin. If we have to, we have to turn the facility upside down, we will do it," she said.

Asked how the gang leaders responded, De Lima said: “Um-oo naman sila sa message ko.”

“Ang susunod na operasiyon [namin] ay depende sa resulta noong pag-surrender nila ng contrabands sa deadline,” she added.

De Lima said the gang leaders should be accountable and responsible enough in policing their ranks.

Gym, sex drugs

Among the latest discoveries of De Lima's team was a hidden personal gym of convict Hans Sy, complete with two small refrigerators and gym equipment like a punching bag, gloves, and punch pads.

Also recovered from Hans Sy's room were several sex enhancement drugs as well as bottles of ketamine, which according to government agents is used for horses and illegal for human consumption.

Also seized were televisions sets and an air-conditioning machine, as well as a license to carry a gun. No firearm was retrieved however.

“Nakumpirma ang matagal ng binabalita na may mga special kubol sila dito in the sense na luxurious talaga makikita mo, may mga television set, may aircon pa,” De Lima, adding she was disgusted beyond relief with the discovery.

“Magugulat ka talaga sa mga nakita kanina sa mga kubol. I am disgusted, even beyond disgusted,” she added.

De Lima also confirmed that the high-profile inmates at the maximum security compound had been tipped off about Monday's first raid and were able to prepare for it. She said the National Burau of Investigation agents who raided the place were initially deceived by jail guards, leading them to smaller kubols.

“Ang NBI ay naniniwala na may nag-waylay sa kanila kaya iniimbestigahan na ang mag ganiyan,” De Lima said.

Apart from Hans Sy's kubol, other kubols that were inspected anew on Friday were those of convicts Arman Agojo, Peter Co, Vicente Sy, Eugene Chua, Jacky King, Herbert Colangco, and Benjamin Marcelo. —KBK, GMA News