A FRESH contingent of police commandos had been posted at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City amid reports on the prevailing illegal drugs trade inside the prison facility.
The “changing of the guard” composed of troops from the PNP’s elite Special Action Force came after the third batch of police commandos completed its six months tour of duty at the penitentiary.
Philippine National Police Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa personally witnessed the new posting of the NBP Security Provisional Battalion, an augmentation police force tasked to impose stricter security at the facility against illegal drugs trade.
The PNP chief also administered the awarding of medals to the outgoing SAF troopers who were deployed at the NBP for six months.
Newly-installed SAF Director Noli Taliño said this was the fourth batch of SAF troopers to be deployed at the national penitentiary.
He said the first batch of NBPFSPB was deployed on July 20, 2016 to secure Maximum Security Compound and Building 14 of the New Bilibid Prison where some 18,000 prisoners were housed.
Dela Rosa underscored the continued proliferation of illegal drugs and corruption inside the national penitentiary and challenged the new leadership of the SAF contingent to make headway in the effort to totally crush the syndicates that operate there.
“This is the fourth turnover ceremony since then and I am happy to say the SAF troopers have since been doing a good job and have indeed proved themselves worthy of the trust and confidence of the national leadership and the public,” Dela Rosa said.
The new SAF deployment would eventually be under the command of Dela Rosa whom President Rodrigo Duterte picked to assume post at the NBP after his retirement in April this year.
Ahead of his projected assumption at the prison facility, Dela Rosa vowed to challenge high-profile inmates persistently involved in the illegal drugs trade.
Reports said the prevailing trading of prohibited substance inside the NBP was being organized by new players inside the facility.
