The Department of Justice has reported that nine high-profile inmates were transferred back to their original cells at the maximum-security compound of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City on Friday morning.
DoJ Undersecretary Erickson Balmes said that nine inmates —Rico Caja, Joel Capones, Jojo Baligad, Benjamin Marcelo, Sam Lee Chua, Hanz Anton Tan, Che Kit Chua, Peter Co and Vicente Sy were brought from medium security compound to Building 14 at the maximum-security compound.
“The report about the transfer was already submitted to the office of the OIC [Officer-in-Charge] BuCor to be endorsed to the office of SOJ [Secretary of Justice],” Balmes said, citing a report submitted by the BuCor to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.
Caja, Capones and Baligad were placed in cell 23, while Marcelo and Chua were transferred to cell 24, Tan and Chua were placed in cell 25 while Co and Sy were assigned to cell 26 of Building 14 at the maximum security compound.
“All these cells are located in block Charlie while Jaybee Sebastian is in block Alpha, far from the cells of the nine,” the report said.
The transfer of the high-profile inmates was made after Aguirre issued Department Order No. 496 dated July 24, 2017 directing BuCor officer-in-charge Rey Ragaas to immediately return the convicted drug lords from the medium security compound to their original detention facility.
“All inmates who were previously transferred from Building 14 to maximum security or medium security and from maximum security to medium security, NBP, BuCor since Dec. 1, 2016. All subsequent transfer of the high-profile inmates and/or inmates convicted of offenses related to illegal drugs within the NBP shall be signed and approved by the Secretary of Justice,” the order said.
Aguirre’s order covered inmates earlier transferred to the medium security compound, including Sy, Baligad, and Co, who all testified against De Lima before the House of Representatives inquiry on the proliferation of illegal drugs in the NBP.
The DOJ chief said he is inclined not to believe reports on the supposed threats of some inmates to retract their statements against De Lima.
The resurgence of drug activities in NBP had prompted BuCor Director General Benjamin delos Santos to resign on July 13.
On Thursday, Aguirre formally took over the supervision and management of the BuCor, pursuant to his Department Order no. 505 dated July 26, 2017. BuCor is an attached agency of DOJ.
With this move, DOJ chief instructed all BuCor officials and employees “to submit and bring to the undersigned’s attention all matters that are beyond the authority of the BuCor Officer-in-Charge.”
Upon assuming the duties as BuCor chief, Aguirre led another surprise inspection at NBP on Thursday morning that again led to the confiscation of various contrabands.
Aguirre learned from PNP-SAF head, Director Benjamin Lusad that there were air-conditioned “kubols” or temporary shelters found inside the medium security compound.
Aguirre said that the “kubols” will be destroyed and that an investigation will be made on why their construction was allowed.
The Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) has also replaced the contingency that has guarded the national penitentiary since last year.
