Rooftop pool found in Bilibid

MANILA, Philippines - Law enforcers found a rooftop mini-pool at an abandoned three-story kubol in the medium security compound of the New Bilibid Prison during a raid yesterday to flush out contraband in the national penitentiary.

The construction of the makeshift shelter, located beside the inmate custodial aid office, was traced to convicted kidnapper Gerry Sepeno, who is serving a life sentence and is currently being held at the newly built facility for high-risk inmates at the prison’s maximum security compound, NBP Superintendent Richard Schwarzkopf Jr. said.

The kubol was dismantled during yesterday morning’s raid, he added.

The target of the raid by the Bureau of Corrections, which supervises the country’s prisons, was the reception and diagnostics center, where newly admitted convicts are confined while they undergo tests before they are sent to the main prison community.

The raiding team recovered appliances – washing machines, televisions, refrigerators and gas stoves – as well as electronic gadgets, Wi-Fi boosters and illegal drug paraphernalia.

Inmates at the medium security compound, also known as Camp Sampaguita, also surrendered two pistols.

Yesterday’s raid was the second carried out at the medium security compound and the 13th raid at the NBP since November last year.

Schwarzkopf said at least five prison guards have been placed under investigation after illegal drugs and firearms were found in their lockers during the first inspection of Camp Sampaguita last month.

He said the prison guards will face summary dismissal proceedings once they are found guilty of keeping contraband.