Image from PTV-4’s Facebook page - Elite police force finally started guard duties in country’s main penitentiary
- General Bato warned them from taking bribes, said they will personally answer to him
- Justice Secretary Aguirre said Duterte has allowed him to make drastic changes in Bilibid
MANILA, Philippines – 320 members of the PNP’s Special Action Force (SAF) started manning their posts in New Bilibid Prison (NBP) on Wednesday, July 20, 2016, in keeping with President Rodrigo Duterte’s promise to cleanse the national penitentiary.
In a simple ceremony, PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa urged the SAF personnel to do their jobs well and warned them against taking bribes from the inmates.
“‘Wag kayong magpa-corrupt, ‘wag kayong magpapaloko sa baba. Isang report lang na isa sa inyo ay tumanggap ng bribe, kahit piso o kahit isang balot ng candy, that will destroy everything,” ABS-CBN quoted him as telling the officers.
[Don’t be corrupted, don’t be fooled. If even one report comes out that you took a bribe, even if it’s only a peso or piece of candy, that will destroy everything.]
At the same time, Dela Rosa assured the inmates of their safety and said the SAF officers were not there to kill them.
“Sila po ay andito para gampanan ang trabaho kung saan nagkukulang itong mga ating present na guwardiya.” He said.
[They are here to do the work where our present guards were lacking.]
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III said he has ordered the NBP’s 930 jail guards relieved and to undergo six months of re-education and re-training. He added more SAF personnel will be arriving in the coming days to augment their peers.
Aguirre also said he has been allowed by Duterte to make drastic changes inside the prison in order to curb the illegal activities being conducted by some of the inmates and corrupt officials.
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