Cops raid ‘VIP’ cells at Bilibid

Police raided yesterday the cells of two "VIP" prisoners inside the National Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City and confiscated P308,000 in fake peso bills, a security camera and drug paraphernalia.

Elements of the Regional Intelligence and Special Operations Office (RISOO) under Superintendent Miguel Laurel swooped down on the cells of Ray Yap, former mayor of Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental and Peter Co at about 11 a.m. following reports they were involved in illegal activities. Laurel said Yap and Co are serving life sentences for murder and drug pushing, respectively.

Metro police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco ordered the raid on the cells of the two prisoners at the maximum security compound of the NBP after an informant tipped them off that Yap was distributing fake peso bills and that Co was actively involved in drug pushing.

Two RISOO teams coordinated with prison officials, who accompanied them to the cells of the two men.

In his report to Velasco, Laurel said they found the fake P1,000 and P500 peso bills inside Yap’s metal attaché case hidden under the flooring of his cell.

Yap admitted owning the fake bills. However, he refused to reveal his source of the fake money.

"He (Yap) was surprised when he saw us entering his cell. He readily cooperated because he had no time to dispose of the evidence," Laurel said.

On the other hand, it took Co several seconds before opening his cell door to police raiders. Laurel said Co was able to clear his cell of other evidence." We only recovered drug-sniffing paraphernalia. We received reports that he was actively pushing drugs inside his cell but we found no shabu inside," Laurel said.

Laurel said he confiscated the closed-circuit camera mounted at Co’s door. The spy camera enables Co to see anyone approaching his cell.

According to Laurel, the two prisoners had well-furnished rooms, with refrigerators, videoke equipment and mini-home theater systems. – Non Alquitran