MANILA - Senator Leila de Lima on Tuesday said there are no shabu laboratories inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), contrary to allegations that the country's supply of illegal drugs comes from the national penitentiary.

At a Senate inquiry on drug-related killings, De Lima, the chairperson of the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee, asked Philippine National Police chief, Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa whether convicted drug lords like Peter Co can still communicate to agents outside the NBP.

"As of now your honor, 'yung transaction po nila ay limited na lang po doon sa stocks na naidistribute na doon sa baba. Right now, hindi na po sila makapag-communicate," Dela Rosa said.

De Lima then reiterated her claim that there is no shabu laboratory inside the NBP.

"Wala pong basehan o hindi totoo 'yung mga speculation na merong shabu lab diyan sa loob, nagmamanufacture ng shabu diyan sa loob, nanggagaling ang droga sa loob. Wala po 'yan, kasi 'yan po ang unang una ko na ipinaalam after namin ni-raid noong December 15, 2014. So na-confirm po 'yang mga impormasyon na 'yan, na pamamagitan nga ng cellphone, ay nakikipagtransact po 'yang sina Peter Co sa kanilang mga tauhan sa labas?" she asked Dela Rosa, who confirmed the information.

These are contrary to what President Rodrigo Duterte has earlier said, accusing De Lima's former driver and bodyguard, Ronnie Dayan, of being her link to the convicted drug lords, who were supposedly allowed to run their syndicates from detention when she was justice secretary.

READ: Duterte: Driver was De Lima’s link to detained drug lords