Detainees at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) Detention Center in Camp Bagong Diwa Bicutan Metro Manila were subjected at 0630 today to yet another raid. We are told the target of the search was cellular phones and cigarettes. This we find rather bemusing considering a relatively large supply of cigarettes was received at the facility yesterday at approximately 1700h. This needless to say is easily verifiable by Commissioner Jaime Morente as he claims to be able to witness all comings and goings, and we quote “at a push of a button” of the CCTV installed at the facility.
We are told the Warden has implemented a No Smoking rule not because of the government’s policy of no smoking in government buildings but because of the complaints she received due to the Korean monopoly of the cigarette trade. After the morning raid, our source tell us the Koreans still have cigarettes and multiple phones. The government salaried guards including Homer (the trusted bagman, oops relative) of the Warden, are still smoking inside the facility.
We learned the overcrowding situation has improved with the recent release of a large group of Chinese nationals, but many of the remaining detainees are suffering from a number of health conditions.
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