All personnel of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) in its offices and in its seven prison facilities nationwide are required to carry only transparent bags to work to ensure they will not bring any contraband, including mobile phones.

In a statement, Bucor said the directive was in response to the instruction by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla against the bringing of mobile phones when reporting physically for work.

Remulla’s instruction was issued when he visited BuCor’s national headquarters and the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City last July 18.

“Tayo muna ay magsakripisyo. Wala muna gagamit ng cellphone sa trabaho (Let’s make the sacrifice. Don’t use cellphones while working),” Remulla during the meeting BuCor officials.

He explained that mobile phones are being used by inmates for illegal activities.

BuCor had earlier charged administratively one employee who was caught with a cellular phone during a surprise inspection last July 25.

“During the inspection, one personnel was discovered to have sneaked-in a cellular phone inside the BuCor’s office despite series of Memoranda on the said prohibition, thus an administrative charge was immediately commenced following proper procedure on the filing of administrative cases to personnel of BuCor,” it said.