Senator De Lima shares reactions about the idea of transferring inmates to a highly-secured holding.
Senator Leila De Lima opposed on the bid to transfer notorious inmates outside the bilibid prison. This was after Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said that the government is considering the transfer of certain high-profile inmates.
In an interview with dzBB, Senator De Lima said that former Bureau of Corrections chief Ernest Diokno proposed the transfer of high-profile inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) to penal colonies in provinces.
However, she said that moving them to another prison will only give some inmates the freedom to engage in illegal activities.
“Na-diskubre later na mas libre sila (inmates) doon. Hindi na-serve ang purpose kasi since mas konti ang ‘na-corrupt’ nila doon na mga tao, mas namayagpag sila, labas-pasok sila. So ibinalik sila ulit [sa NBP],” she was quoted by GMA News.
In December 2014, De Lima made a surprise inspection at the NBP and found luxury items and posh loving quarters for certain convicts. She then ordered to transfer 19 inmates to an undisclosed facility in Metro Manila.
However, the inmates were eventually moved back to NBP and were placed in the highly-secured holding inside the compound.
Newly-appointed Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre earlier said that the administration is eyeing on the possibility of transferring notorious inmates to a more secured holding in Camp Aguinaldo, Tanay Rizal or in an island.