Robin Padilla on VIP convicts in Bilibid: What’s new?

MANILA, Philippines – Actor Robin Padilla said that long before the  December 15 surprise inspection of the Department of Justice at the New Bilibid Prison, which revealed the shocking VIP treatment of some convicts, there were already anomalies inside the state penitentiary.

In an interview on ANC’s Headstart Friday, December 19, Robin said that he experienced first hand life in prison when he served time – more than 3 years – for illegal possession of firearms in the late 1990s.

“Pagpasok ko ng kulungan, ang bumulaga sa akin mga inmate tumatalon sa third floor (When I went to prison, the first thing that I saw was an inmate jumping from the third floor),” Padilla said.

He said he learned that the inmate was a drug user, and that methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, was not only available in prison, it was also being “cooked” there. A jail guard, he said, even asked him for his drug of choice.

“Pagdating ko nga doon, ang tanong sa akin ng gwardya, ‘Anong gusto mong tirahin?’ (When I got there, the guard asked me, ‘What drug do you want to take?)'” he said.

Padilla said he used to take heroin and Demerol. 

The actor also shared that there were people who jogged with firearms, had jacuzzis in their cells, and said that he also carried a gun with him.

“’Pag sinarado na lahat at wala nang guwardiya sa loob, war ‘yun (Once everything is closed and there are no more guards inside, that’s war),” he said,

For Robin, the constant change in prison leadership is the reason why illegal activities inside the prison continues. He admitted that he became an informant of former Bureau of Corrections Director General Vicente Vinarao who wanted to eliminate illegal drugs from the prison.

“Daga ako doon (I was a rat),” he said, adding that this was why he was granted conditional pardon.

The actor said the campaign was discontinued after Vinarao was replaced. 

“Sana ibalik nila yung dating nakaugalian na yung boss ay ‘yung gang boss. Hindi porke’t mayaman ka o drug lord ka, ikaw na ‘yung boss kasi siyempre gagawin mo nang kaharian mo yun. ‘Pag ikaw na ang nakaupo dun, lahat na ng kalokohan ginagawa. Wala nang batas,” he said.

(I hope they will revert to the practice that the boss is the gang boss. Just because you are rich or a drug lord, it does not mean you are the boss, because you’ll make it your kingdom. If you are the one in the position, you can do anything. There’s lawlessness.) 

Padilla said Vinarao took a “professional” approach to the problem.

“Naglagay siya ng criminologist. ‘Yan ang gusto kong itanong. Nasaan na ‘yung mga criminologist na gwardya ngayon? (He put a criminologist inside the prison. That’s what I want to know, where is the criminologist now?)”

On Monday, DOJ  officials saw how some 19 prisoners were living inside the Bilibid prison, with jacuzzis, aircon and gadgets found in their cell. They also saw illegal drugs, sex toys and others banned items. (READ: Crime lord enjoys jailhouse rock)

A source earlier told Rappler that new leaders inside Bilibid promised to “clean up” the facility.

Robin is currently promoting the movie Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo, an entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival which opens on December 25. – Rappler.com