MANILA - Drug lords rule the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) through a culture of corruption that has mired even religious organizations and medical workers who enter the prison, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre claimed Wednesday.

Speaking to radio DZMM, Aguirre said almost the entire NBP system -- including its medical services, handicraft production and delivery of goods -- is tainted with corruption.

"Iyung system po talaga ang magugulat ka sapagkat halos lahat ng aspeto ng buhay diyan sa Bilibid ay mayroon pong katiwalian. Kahit iyan pong mga religious organization," he said.

"Pinapatungan din nila (drug lords) lahat ng nagdadala ng goods sa bilangguan, kahit iyan pong mga handicraft."

The justice chief earlier banned religious groups from conducting preachings and other religious activities inside the NBP. He earlier said a religious group has allegedly been bringing in prostitutes and, possibly, illegal drugs inside the state penitentiary.

The ban on religious groups doing outreach work inside the NBP will be lifted once "the situation normalizes," Aguirre said.

2 ex-DOJ officials benefited from Bilibid drug money: Aguirre

Aguirre also lent weight to the claim of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Vicente Vinarao that nurses and doctors of the NBP hospital are sometimes coerced into helping drug lords.

The Cabinet secretary said a doctor recently received a death threat from a VIP inmate, who asked for a medical certificate so he could temporarily leave prison.

The doctor, who was from Aguirre's hometown in Quezon province, has since resigned from the NBP hospital, he said.

'DYNASTY' OF NBP GUARDS

Aguirre also blamed a "dynasty" of corrupt prison guards for the proliferation of drugs and illegal activities in the state penitentiary.

"Minamana na po ang posisyon diyan ng mga guwardya e. Kaya iyung halimbawa, mga ama nilang korap na, tapos mare-retire o magre-resign, ang ipapalit ay kapamilya rin," he said.

"Ang nagpapatakbo diyan sa loob ng Bilibid ay iyung mga preso. Dinidiktahan nila iyung mga opsiyal, guards ng Bucor,"Aguirre added.

He said this is why elite policemen of the Special Action Forces (SAF) were deployed to replace jail guards last July.

SAF's ongoing crackdown on contraband items at the NBP continues to yield cellphones, Wi-Fi routers, cash and narcotics, Aguirre said.

He said convicted drug lord Peter Co alone was found hiding several cellphones and a sum of P150,000 in cash so far. One of his mobile phones was concealed inside the thick sole of his slipper.

Aside from implementing tighter security at Bilibid, Aguirre said the Department of Justice (DOJ) is also investigating the possible lapses of the previous BuCor and DOJ administration.