DOJ urged to probe inmates’ internet access

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MANILA – The Department of Justice was urged to investigate on the unfettered access to mobile phones and the Internet of inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Chief Insp. Roque Merdegia of the Philippine National Police has cited the access to communication gadgets as among the reasons for the flourishing of the illegal drug trade inside the national penitentiary.

“We found out that sometimes, personnel of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor, which runs the NBP) are the ones who sell cell phones and gadgets to the prisoners,” the spokesperson of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force said.

The statement was made after leaders of drug syndicates were reported to have been running their illegal trade inside the prison.

Several reports from insiders also indicated that the said trade is allegedly happening with the collusion of the NBP personnel.