LEADERS of drug syndicates now doing time inside the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa are believed to be behind the “demolition job” against Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Gaudencio Pangilinan.

Last week, Pangilinan was the victim of an adverse news report quoting a BuCor prison guard, Jail Guard 3 Kabungsuan ‘Bong’ Makilala, who accused Pangilinan of corruption, tolerating prostitution and other irregularities upon his assumption as BuCor chief in place of disgraced , former director, Ernesto Diokno.

Pangilinan, a bemedalled military general and former Northern Luzon (Nolcom) commanding general, replaced Diokno in July 2011, in the aftermath of the scandal on the alleged ‘VIP treatment’ of former Batangas governor, Jose Antonio Leviste.

Reliable sources said drug gang members doing time inside the national penitentiary found it hard to do their illegal business when Pangilinan took over from Diokno.

Only last month, prison guards foiled an attempt to bring in 300 grams of shabu inside the facility. On several instances, plastic sachets of shabu were also discovered in the possession of inmates and their visitors, prompting Pangilinan to order the “isolation” of all known drug syndicate leaders and members doing time at the NBP and other jail facilities under the control of the BuCor.

For his part, Venenancio G. Santidad, chief of staff to Pangilinan, noted that Makilala should be the last person to testify against Pangilinan as he has an “axe to grind” against the latter.

He noted that Pangilinan ordered the transfer of Makilala to the Davao Penal Colony after an initial investigation showed that Makilala had been “rigging” the bidding process at the BuCor.

“Makilala has been with the BAC (Bids and Awards Committee) of the BuCor for such a long time, already; siya ang kausap ng mga suppliers.

“But instead of sacking Makilala, Dir. Pangilinan merely decided to transfer him to Davao and this is how he reciprocated Dir. Pangilinan,” Santidad told People’s Tonight.

Reached for comment, Pangilinan said he welcomes an investigation of the issues now hounding the BuCor.

“Wala naman kaming itinatagong ‘baho’ dito at magandang pagkakataon na mailinaw at masagot sa publiko ang lahat ng mga bintang laban sa akin,” he added.

He also said their investigation of how illegal drugs managed to find their way inside the prison compound is already ongoing. “In due time, we shall be able to identify the sources and how they operate,” Pangilinan assured.