Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday called for an investigation into the alleged prevalence of prostitution inside the National Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City.

De Lima issued the statement shortly after a whistleblower came out in the open and exposed that sex workers are being peddled by prison guards to prisoners inside the NBP.

“Nakakaalarma na naman ’yang mga information na ganyan, kung totoo nga ’yan. I’m not saying na totoo na nga ’yung mga sinasabi kaya nga paiimbestigahan ko na. But I need to talk first to the wistleblower, kasi may mga ebidensiya daw, may documents daw,” De Lima said.

The whistleblower divulged that prostitutes are being sold in NBP on varying “classes,” the most expensive – referred as “Tilapia” – are priced at P2,500.

On the other hand, the sex workers who are not attractive are called “Itik” and could be availed of at P150.

“Kung pangit, P150 lang,” the whistleblower was quoted as saying.

Prison officials admitted the existence of prostitution inside prison but noted that it was only rampant during the previous management.

Furthermore, the witness bared that several high-profile inmates are getting special treatment from the guards.