Senators on Monday backed calls for an in-depth probe on the deaths of high-profile inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City allegedly due to COVID-19.
Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said he supports a legislative inquiry into the death of Jaybee Sebastian, a key witness in the alleged prison drug trade involving Sen. Leila de Lima, who allegedly died due to the coronavirus disease.
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 Persons Deprived of Liberty (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 its not clear if they have any access to proper health care services),” she stressed.