Corruption in NBP (National Bilibid Prison)

The recent news about the corruption in the National Bilibid Prison is not shocking to me anymore because I already have heard of stories wherein some VIP (very important prisoner) are treated better than other prisoners. It is obvious that a VIP would do anything to get the VIP treatment. A way to do that is through bribery, or using his authoritative powers to get it. Also, in prisons, gangs are abundant. Since they are abundant, these gangs are taken advantage of by the officials and use them as “weapons” to preserve peace inside the prisons. There have been so many high profile prisoners before, who were said to be having VIP treatment inside jail such as better “accommodation” and food. There are also reports wherein there are grants of living out privileges to those who could pay. Living out privileges used to be given only to those who are about to be released or long-time prisoners who are sick and old but now anyone who can pay can avail of this “promo”. The case wherein Leviste  was able to get living out privileges is the most current news about this issue. Bureau of Corrections chief Ernesto Diokno has resigned and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is now working on the justice department’s investigation on this issue. Will she make a difference? Will she be able to solve the mysteries of how the very important prisoners get their VIP treatment? Can she eradicate corruption inside those walls?

What did President Benigno Aquino III do about the matter? He cleared Diokno without the investigating his role in the corruption cases inside the bureau. Those (people whom I know) who voted for Pnoy because of his anti-corruption stand are frustrated and disappointed because so far, nothing has changed in the Philippine corruption issue. It has almost been a year since President Aquino took over and yet, corruption is far from being eliminated. The Aquino government has even shown that it is ready to fire the president’s friends who have been accused of wrongdoing. Also, the Aquino government has been criticized for appointing the president’s friends to Cabinet positions even if they do not have the basic qualifications. According the report, the media and some of Pnoy’s friends can justify this by saying that it is just normal for a president to appoint those he trusts. 

reference: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/06/10/the-long-wrong-way-to-solve-corruption/