Even behind bars, inmates inside the national penitentiary are still able to conduce their illegal transactions using their mobile phones and to cut off the communication from their contacts outside, authorities are now using two military-grade high-output power signal jammers.
Both units are now being used at the New Bilibid Prison's (NBP) Building 14, where high-profile drug convicts are detained and separated from the rest of the detainees.
The first signal jammer was installed at the facilities holding area on Tuesday, while the second will most likely be installed at the facility's watch tower.
To prevent anyone, including NBP personnel, from tampering with the switch installed underneath the units, the jammers were locked inside a steel casing. The key will be handed over to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre for safekeeping.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Enan Orceo said they hope the jammers can help minimize illegal transactions inside the Bilibid.
"We are hoping na kung hindi man totally ma-eradicate yung transactions using the cellphone, at least ma-minimize and prevent, kasi ang technology natin halos everyday nagbabago. Baka yung 4G ngayon hindi na 4G tomorrow," he said.
[Translation: We are hoping the jammers can minimize and prevent transactions using the cellphones, if we cannot fully eradicate it. Technology is evolving daily. The 4G today may not be 4G tomorrow.]
DOJ, NBP officials oversee installation of high powered jammers inside NBP's Building 14 | @AC_Nicholls pic.twitter.com/cM4WXN2RRb— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) September 27, 2016
One military-grade jammer can cut off signals within a twenty-meter radius. Two of these will be able to cover the whole area of Building 14, which measures 1,200 square meters.
These high-powered units, which came from South Korea, can block various signals, including GPS, 3G, 4G, WiFi and radio frequencies.
The signal jammers, worth P2 million each, were supposedly donated by supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Aside from Building 14, the DOJ also wants signal jammers installed in the prison's maximum compound, where 16,000 inmates are currently detained.
Duterte earlier said he is planning to install more communications jammer in penal facilities.
Source / Image: CNN Philippines
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