More ‘money-making’ activities in BuCor bared
Credit to Author: BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO| Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2019 08:02:51 +0000
A FORMER official of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Thursday revealed several “money-making” activities at the BuCor and New Bilibid Prison (NBP), including bringing in female entertainers for a fee.
Rafael Ragos, who was BuCor deputy chief, was the third witness presented at the resumption of the Senate inquiry on the alleged misapplication of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA), which granted early release even to convicts of heinous crimes.
“Sa loob ng maximum, maraming unusual transactions regarding money-making (Inside the maximum [security compound], there are unusual transactions regarding money-making),” said Ragos, who was BuCor officer-in-charge during the Aquino administration.
He said that unscrupulous prison guards allowed female dancers inside the NBP to “entertain” high-profile inmates for P30,000 a night.
“For example, ‘yung tilapia nakakapagpasok sila diyan. Babae. Para sa mga high-profile, magpapasok ng babae. Nag e-enjoy sila sa mga babae (For example, the ’tilapia’ [St. Peter’s fish], are able to go inside [NBP]. [Tilapia is jail’s euphemism for] Women. For high-profile inmates, women [entertainers] will be brought inside. They enjoy in the company of these women),” Ragos said when Sen. Panfilo Lacson asked him to clarify his claim.
Ragos reiterated his accusation that detained Sen. Leila de Lima was linked to illegal drug dealing at the NBP.
Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd on Wednesday said four more witnesses were expected to testify on the alleged “GCTA for sale” anomaly at the BuCor in releasing prisoners.