The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Friday said it will enforce stricter measures on the use of government accommodation for its personnel after three individuals were arrested in a drug bust inside the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm (SRPPF) in Zamboanga City.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. ordered the new policy following the arrest of a person deprived of liberty (PDL), Jawewe Sakaluran Halil, along with Louie Ocampo and his wife Fatima Madjid, who were caught allegedly selling illegal drugs inside the prison compound.
Ocampo is the son of former Corrections Officer Charles Ocampo, who was removed from service in March 2024.
Neither Louie nor Fatima had official permission to live inside the prison reservation and had been served a final notice to vacate the premises last April 15, according to SRPPF Superintendent C/SSupt. Daisy Sevilla Castillote.
An intelligence report tipped off authorities that a PDL would attempt to purchase illegal drugs from a store operated by the Ocampo couple inside the Family Shelter, a government housing area.
At around 8:45 a.m., BuCor security personnel observed three minimum-security PDLs approach the store. During an inspection, a piece of tissue paper containing three sachets of suspected shabu fell from Halil’s possession. Upon questioning, he admitted to buying the drugs from the Ocampos.
A follow-up search, conducted with K9 units, led to the confiscation of additional contraband from the Ocampos’ store, including four sachets of suspected shabu, aluminum foil strips, lighters, improvised spatulas, and plastic packaging materials.
All seized items were turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), while the suspects were handed to the Zamboanga City Police Station 9 for the filing of appropriate charges.
Catapang also directed Castillote to launch a full investigation and ensure that government housing is not used for any illegal activity.