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MANILA - Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Ronald dela Rosa conducted a surprise inspection at the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) custodial center in Camp Crame on Wednesday.

The former Philippine National Police chief said he came to check on the high-profile inmates Herbert Colangco, Robert Durano, Jerry Pipino, Noel Martinez, German Agojo, Jaime Patio, Thomas Donina, and Rodolfo Magleo.

“Sa nakikita ko namang sitwasyon, mukhang malabo talaga silang makapag-transact dahil unang-una iyung guwardiya dito mahirap i-corrupt dahil andito na iyung BuCor mga corrections officer, composite eh, SAF atsaka AFP,” Dela Rosa said during inspection.

Dela Rosa spoke with 8 of the inmates inside ISAFP custodial center who are state witnesses against Bilibid drug trade: Kahit na kayo mga state witness, pwede kayong mga dying witness kung kayo ay magpapatuloy sa kalakalan sa droga. @ABSCBNNews @ANCALERTS pic.twitter.com/OS5ihYxIPa

— Maan Macapagal (@maan_macapagal) May 9, 2018

Dela Rosa said it will be hard for the inmates to connive inside the ISAFP detention center.

“Mahihirapan silang makipag-connive. Eh papayag ba ang AFP na magkakaroon ng drug trading, drug transaction within their compound sa Camp Aguinaldo? Hindi papayag yan,” he said.

Dela Rosa also spoke with the 8 high-profile inmates, who are also state witnesses against the drug trade in Bilibid, and warned them not to continue drug transactions under his command.

“I talked to them sabi ko kahit na kahit kayo’y mga state witness, pwede kayong mga dying witness kung kayo ay magpapatuloy sa kalakalan sa droga,” Dela Rosa said.

The BuCor chief said security is also tighter inside New Bilibid Prison particularly in the maximum and medium security compound.

Dela Rosa said he wants to make sure that illegal drug transactions will not happen under his watch and that no contraband or gadgets like cellphones will be sneaked inside the prison.

Dela Rosa said keeping the high-profile inmates inside the AFP custodial center is better, even if it costs more.

However, Ellecer Carlos, spokesperson of the group Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (I-Defend), said Dela Rosa is not fit to lead BuCor.

“Si Police Director General Bato Dela Rosa actually do not belong in a reform institution kasi di ba restorative nga tayo, ang track record niya is actually punitive, violent at iyun ang inimplement niya so how can he actually kung pinapatay na lang sa kalsada, sini-circumvent iyung justice may contempt siya for the rule of law, how can he oversee an institution that actually reforms people, hindi kasi yan pagpaparusa, kapag sinabi mong restorative justice o reforms ay pagmo-molde mo sa tao upang sa ganun ay maging mas maayos siyang miyembro ng kumunidad,” Carlos said.

According to I-Defend, Dela Rosa leading BuCor is a cause for alarm for human rights groups.