FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

News

Filipino Drug Lords Lived 'Like Kings' In Cells With Jacuzzis, Sex Dolls, and a Stripper Stage

When authorities in the Philippines raided a maximum security prison near Manila, they found some of the county's most notorious inmates living lavishly behind bars.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Some of the most notorious drug lords in the Philippines lived "like kings" inside one of the country's largest prisons in Muntinlupa City, south of Manila, authorities say. Guards allegedly allowed inmates to horde money and drugs, and install luxury features — including a concert stage, a marbled Jacuzzi, and a "strip bar" — in cells upgraded to resemble lavish apartments.

The extravagant items were discovered in a pre-dawn raid on 20 air-conditioned "villas" sprawled across the Bilibid prison's 1,250-acre maximum security compound Monday, according to Justice secretary Leila de Lima.

Advertisement

PHOTO: Authorities find drugs, cash, contraband in drug lord's cell in Bilibid— ABS-CBN News Channel (@ANCALERTS)December 15, 2014

De Lima said that authorities conducted the raid in response to reports that the drug kingpins were operating their narcotics empires inside prison walls, but ended up finding a stash of methamphetamine, more than 1.4 million pesos ($25,000) in cash, flat screen televisions, a hot tub, and a PlayStation 4, AFP reported.

"They are here to serve jail time, but instead they're living like kings," de Lima told reporters after the raid.

Police said an inflated sex doll was propped on the bed in one cell, and that an elevated platform with strobe lights and mirror ball had been built in an adjacent room for the numerous strippers that were smuggled into the prison. Next to the stripper stage, police found a blue bra with feathers, authorities said.

Another room contained keyboards, guitars, a drum set, and a stage for concerts. In other areas, police seized expensive whiskey and wines, Louis Vuitton wallets, and Rolex watches amid piles of cash.

Authorities also described lavish bathrooms with marble tiles, and large bathtubs and showers.

HAPPY the sniffer dog of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency helped NBI, cops, PDEA raid Bilibid— Aie Balagtas See (@AieBalagtasSee)December 15, 2014

FOUND INSIDE BILIBID: Convicted rob gang chief H. Colangco wearing Louis Vuitton shoes | via— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar)December 15, 2014

Advertisement

Bribery and corruption is reportedly common in the prison, and numerous reports have emerged of rich inmates building virtual mansions behind bars, or simply leaving the premises altogether.

At least 19 convicted drug lords will be sent to another detention facility and have had their visitation rights suspended following the raids, de Lima said.

"I thought problems like that are being dealt with because sometimes [prison officials] conduct raids and they report results to me," she added, according to local media. "They even have lists of [seized] contraband. It now appears it's just the tip of the iceberg."

Convicted drug lords transferred to NBI Detention Center from New Bilibid Prison past noon today. |— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb)December 15, 2014

Follow Liz Fields on Twitter: @lianzifields