2014 New Bilibid Prison raids
The Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, National Bureau of Investigation led by Justice secretary Leila de Lima launched a series of raids on the New Bilibid Prison on December 15, 19, and 22, 2014 targeting drug lords allegedly operating inside the prison and to seize contrabands reportedly in possession of some of the prison's inmates. Prohibited items such as methamphetamine chloride and other drug paraphernalia, inflatable sex dolls, a stripper bar and jacuzzi were found in air-conditioned villas of high-profile inmates. Police also found other items and contrabands prohibited in the prison such as firearms and bladed weapons, mobile phones, flat screen TVs, laptops, WIFi, luxury Patek Philippe, Cartier and Rolex watches, sauna and over in cash from body searches of several inmates.
Officials handling the New Bilibid Prison were relieved on December 19 following an order from Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales for an investigation on officials of the Bureau of Corrections. Bureau of Corrections chief, Franklin Bucayu, refused calls to resign following the findings of the raid. In an interview with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima at the Malacañang Palace on December 24, 2014, De Lima said that while the discovery of illegal drugs and luxury items in the prison was "a pressing and scandalous issue," there was no need to fire Franklin Bucayu while the investigation is ongoing. De Lima defended Bucayu saying “it appears to me that he was not in cahoots with the inmates. Perhaps he was hoodwinked by his men because he issued guidelines but these were not implemented.” The secretary also said that "at the very least, his shortcoming was that he was not hands-on," but noted that Bucayu "now submits reports every day." Meanwhile, Bucayu insisted that he merely inherited the problem in the penal system but eventually resigned on June 1, 2015 citing health concerns and multiple death threats against him.
