Aside from Jaybee Sebastian, there were 28 other persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) who allegedly died of COVID-19 and cremated at the Pantheon de Dasmariñas, a list obtained by Manila Bulletin showed.
Among the 28 others was Benjamin Marcelo, a member of the so-called “Bilibid 19” – a group of high-profile inmates discovered to be living in luxury in 2014.
The Bilibid 19 lived in "kubols" or special detention areas at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
The Bilibid 19 consists of Marcelo, Dona Agojo, Sam Li Chua, Vicente Sy, Michael Ong, Tony Co, Joel Capones, Clarence Domingo, Peter Co, Imam Boratong, Herbert Colanggco, Tom Chua, Rommel Capones, Jojo Baligad, Willy Chua, George Sy, Jacky King, Willy Sy, Noel Martinez, and Eugene Chua.
Marcelo is among 28 brought to the Panteon de Dasmariñas in Cavite from the national penitentiary who have died from COVID-19 for cremation. An anonymous list that surfaced late Saturday night included Marcelo with seven others, some were convicted drug lords that were said to have succumbed to COVID-19.
The list mentioned the names of Marcelo, who was convicted for kidnap-for-ransom; Jimmy Yang, Zhang Zhu Li, Jimmy Kinsing Hung, Eugene Chua, Ryan Ong, and Pasig City shabu tiangge operator Boratong.
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag was asked to verify the list but did not confirm. He only said that there were 18 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
In the anonymous list, Zhu Li was mentioned to have died on May 31 but his death certificate showed he died on May 30. Hung died on June 1 while Marcelo died on June 2.
The anonymous list stated that Eugene Chua, also a member of the Bilibid 19, was cremated at the Manila North Cemetery. The Manila North Green Park was asked to verify this. It said that it has stopped operations but did not specify when.
A source confirmed that Eugene Chua was in the log of the crematorium dated June 3 and was brought by the BuCor at around 10 p.m.
No effect on De Lima case
With the report, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Monday that the death Sebastian will not affect the prosecution of detained Sen. Leila de Lima for drug charges.
“The prosecution has an array of witnesses,” the Justice Secretary said.
“Many of them have already testified in court,” Guevarra added.
Guevarra met with Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag Monday to discuss the reported deaths of the PDLs inside the NBP.
“I have summoned DG Bantag about this,” Guevarra said. “We’ll try to find out what’s happening there.”
Sebastian was the leader of “Presidio,” one of the two prominent gangs inside the NBP, rivaling “Carcel,” the group headed by Herbert Colanggo, who was convicted for kidnapping.
De Lima is accused of allegedly conspiring with Sebastian, former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Jesus Bucayu, Bucayu’s former staff Wilfredo Elli, her former driver and lover Ronnie Dayan, De Lima’s former security aide Joenel Sanchez, and Jad de Vera in the proliferation of illegal drugs at the NBP to help raise funds for her 2016 senatorial campaign.
During the probe conducted by the House of Representatives over the drug allegations against De Lima, Sebastian testified to have given her around ₱14 million from earnings in the narcotics trade.
READ MORE: De Lima cases won’t be affected by Sebastian’s death, lawyers agree
Senate inquiry
Meanwhile, senators on Monday backed calls for an in-depth probe on the deaths of high-profile PDLs at the NBP.
Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said he supports a legislative inquiry into the death of Sebastian, a key witness in the alleged prison drug trade involving De Lima.
Sebastian’s body was reportedly cremated and no autopsy was conducted.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he has summoned Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag to explain the COVID-19 deaths inside NBP.
“Kailangang mabigyang linaw kung ano ang naging sanhi ng pagkamatay at kung may pagkukulang ba ang mga otoridad sa pangyayaring ito (We need to shed light on what was the real reason behind the deaths and if authorities were remiss in their duties),” Go said.
While the Department of Justice (DOJ) probe is ongoing, Go said he supports Senate President Vicente Sotto III’s plan to file a resolution calling for a Senate investigation into the issue.
“Bukod rito, at bilang Chair ng Senate Committee on Health, nais rin nating alamin kung paano masisiguro na ang kalusugan at kapakanan ng mga nasa kulungan ay maaalagaan (As chair of the Senate Committee on Health, we also want to know the status of the health and welfare of those inside prison cells),” he said.
“I reiterate that it is every Filipino's right to receive medical and health care, especially now that we are still in the middle of a global health crisis.
“Ukol naman sa epekto nito sa kaso ni (regarding its effect on the case of) Sen. Leila de Lima, that is for the courts to decide,” the senator pointed out.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros also welcomed a Senate probe into the matter: “Dapat aksyunan ito ng BuCor, hindi lang para sa mga high-profile inmates kung di pati na rin para sa lahat ng Pilipinong nakapiit sa Bibilid (The BuCor should take action on this, not only for high-profile inmates but also for the sake of the other Filipino prisoners inside Bilibid).”
Hontiveros pointed out that the NBP and other State penitentiaries in the country are congested and most PDLs do not have access to better health services, making prisoners vulnerable to any contagious diseases, particularly COVID.
“Napakarami nila, dikit-dikit at hindi malinaw kung merong maayos na health services para sa kanila (They are so congested, and it’s not clear if they have any access to proper health care services),” she stressed. (With reports from Jeffrey G. Damicog and Hannah L. Torregoza)
READ MORE: Senators back probe into deaths of high-profile Bilibid inmates