MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Wednesday, 23 October 2019, has pulled out 200 officers from the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) amid reports of smuggling of prohibited items such as tobacco, liquor and cellular phones.

According to NCRPO chief, Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, the 200 policemen were assigned back to the NCRPO headquarters.

Sinas said the 16 NCRPO officers, meantime, who were accused of smuggling contraband items were placed on floating status pending investigation for possible administrative and criminal cases.

Based on initial investigation, the 16 officers allegedly brought in tobacco, two (2) liters of alcohol and cellphones into the national penitentiary.

Sinas said the policemen allegedly sold liquor to prisoners for P10,000 to P20,000 per liter.

Earlier, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) said the 16 policemen involved in the alleged smuggling of contraband items could be expelled from the service.

According to Napolcom Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Rogelio Casurao, the commission will determine if there’s enough evidence to warrant an administrative proceeding against the officers.

The NCRPO fielded some of its men to the NBP upon the request of Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag for police reinforcement.

Earlier, Bantag ordered his prison guards to undergo training and evaluation, after some of them were accused of pocketing bribes from moneyed prisoners.(GA/IAmigo/CNS)