House Leaders Say Probe of Drugs in Bilibid is “Justifiable”

Leaders of the House of Representatives on Monday stressed that the investigation on the proliferation of illegal drug trade in the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) is “justifiable” compared to the probe into extrajudicial killings.

In a press conference, Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia reiterated that the role of Congress was to conduct an investigation in aid of legislation, adding that the inquiry into extrajudicial killings was “useless” because of the existence of the Revised Penal Code.

“To investigate extrajudicial killings, in so far as the Congress is considered, would be useless because there is already an existing law under the Revised Penal Code,” said Garcia, noting that the legislators are neither judges nor prosecutors.

On the other hand, the congressional probe into the alleged proliferation of drug syndicates in the NBP aims to identify the loopholes and flaws of the current system in order to craft a new law and make the national penitentiary “corruption-free and drug-free”, Garcia said.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez led the filing of House Resolution no. 105 to determine the involvement and accountability of the authorities mandated to exercise control and supervision over the national penitentiary, particularly during Senator Leila de Lima’s term as justice secretary.

According to the resolution, the use of the NBP as a base for the operation of top drug lords has been made evident during the raid operation conducted by De Lima on December 2014, where makeshift “shabu” laboratories were discovered.

For his part, Davao City Rep. and House appropriations committee chair Karlo Nograles said that De Lima could be invited as a resource speaker for the sake of public accountability and transparency, stressing that these abuses happened under her watch.

Nograles added that those involved in the drug trade, especially pertinent drug lords, could also be invited to the House probe. He, however, said that this would be under the prerogative of the Committee on Rules, which would be tasked to handle the inquiry.

“If we need to go there, then we will do it. We expect them to cooperate. We have various resource persons. Upon hearing the statements of the resource persons, the Congress has to come up with conclusions to strengthen the laws,” said Nograles. (PNA) RMA/FMC