Lechon used to smuggle contraband in NBI?

MANILA, Philippines – How did high-profile inmates manage to smuggle contraband inside their temporary detention facility at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) during the holidays?

Initial investigation showed that inmates may have used a trojan horse in the form of a staple food in Filipino festivities – lechon (suckling pig). 

Two deliveries of lechon were made to the temporary detention cell during the holiday break, NBI director Virgilio Mendez confirmed Monday, January 5. 

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told reporters Monday that one high-profile inmate had specifically requested for a delivery of suckling pig during the holidays. 

“Somehow, during those times [baka may] lumapit doon sa mga drug inmate na regular detainees na nasa NBI detention facility at baka ‘yun ang posibleng nagpuslit din ng mga contraband na yan, especially cash,” De Lima said. (Somehow, during those times, maybe there were regular detainees at the NBI detention facility who approached the drug inmates and perhaps they were the ones who smuggled contraband, especially cash.)

Mendez said the suckling pigs were ordered by convicted bank robbery gang leader Herbert Colangco, now infamous for shooting a music video inside his previous cell in New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa, and former Pagadian City mayor Samuel Co, who is in jail over the Aman Futures networking scam..  

Mendez said Colangco’s wife delivered the sucking pig but she was barred from seeing her husband.  

Prison officers received another delivery of lechon for Co afterwards, Mendez said. 

“It appears that they (high-profile inmates) used Co as a conduit to get their cash and valuables,” the NBI director said in English and Filipino. 

De Lima had ordered the transfer of 20 high profile New Bilibid Prison inmates to the NBI after she, along with other security officials, found in a suprise raid the proliferation of contraband in prison, including drugs, cash, sex dolls, Rolex watches and fully-furnished jail cells.  

But it appeared the transfer of inmates has not stopped the entry of illegal items. In a separate inspection of the NBI facility in December, authorities discovered up to P700,000 worth of cash hidden in garbage bins and toilent tanks.

The NBI is now investigating whether NBI agents should be held liable for the delivery of illegal items. 

De Lima said Mendez was reprimanded for the incident. – Rappler.com