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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bantag to senators probing NBP inmates' death: Are you their protectors?

Bantag to senators probing NBP inmates' death: Are you their protectors?

Published Jul 23, 2020 02:26 pm

"Are they protectors of high profile drug lords?" 

This was the question posed by Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Chief Gerald Bantag to senators probing his handling of the deaths of high profile inmates inside the New Bilibid Prison.

Bureau of Corrections
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

In a radio interview on DZBB, Bantag said, "Bakit ang interes nila itong 9 na high profile PDL lang? Nakapagtataka naman. Ano ang interes nila? Ano sila, mga protektor ng high profile drug lord? Drug lord ang kinukwestyon nila eh (Why are they only interested in these 9 high profile PDLs? It's puzzling. What is their interest? Are they protectors of high profile drug lords? They are only questioning the deaths of drug lords)." 

The 9 high profile inmates who died from COVID-19 whose names were released by the BuCor in a press briefing on Wednesday include Jaybee Sebastian; Hung Kin Sing Jimmy alias "Jimmy Ang"; Benjamin Marcelo; Eugene Chua; Willy Yang; Amin Boratong; Sherwin Sanchez; Shu Zhang; and Francis Go. 

Bantag said there were 12 others who died from COVID-19 but the senators are only focused on the 9.

"Twenty-one ang namatay pero ang tinitingnan nila yung mga high profile. Unfair naman sa 12. Twenty-one yun eh. How about the 12? Hindi naman high profile yung namatay pero COVID din. Kaya nga nakapagtataka na napaka interesado sila sa siyam high profile eh meron namang kasama yun na 12 (A total of 21 prisoners died but they are only looking at the high profile inmates. It is unfair to the 12. The total death was 21. They're not high profile but they died from COVID-19 as well.That's why it's so puzzling that they are so interested in the 9 high profile inmates when they were with 12 others)," he said in the interview. 

Bantag earlier said that they could not disclose the names of the PDLs who died from COVID-19 due to the Data Privacy Act. 

Senate Minority Franklin Drilon disagreed saying the BuCor cannot cite this to withhold information regarding the inmates' deaths.

Drilon added the responsibility of revealing or not the names of those who died should fall on the Department of Justice (DOJ) since they provide reports to both them and the Department of Health (DOH). 

On June 19, journalists were able to confirm the death of high profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian after contacting the crematorium where his remains were brought. 

At that time, the BuCor neither confirmed nor denied his death. The confirmation was only made when DOJ Secretary Menardo Gueverra called Bantag.

Senator Drilon said that the presumption of regularity in the BuCor cannot be maintained because the people have already lost confidence in the officials there.

Bantag insisted, "Kung wala silang tiwala sa akin, edi tanggalin na ako. Willing naman tayo eh, ang sakit na sa ulo dito eh (If they have no confidence in me, then they should fire me. I am willing, this is causing me headaches.)

During the press briefing on Wednesday, BuCor Spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag said they are willing to participate should there be a senate hearing on the matter. 

"We cannot turn down invitation…meron naman tayong mga staff and…as long as it is a legitimate inquiry, we will coordinate, we will participate and we will cooperate," he said.

Issues of body switching

The deaths of the high profile inmates is being doubted due to the absence of autopsy.

Many are also puzzled as to why the remains were cremated prior to the deaths being made public, giving rise to claims of  "body switching."  

The BuCor, however, maintained they have documented the deaths and they have medical records to show for it.

They added they promptly came out with their report on the deaths upon the pronouncement of the National Privacy Commission (NPC) that it was of public interest.

The BuCor also attested to providing the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) the necessary records on the matter.

Dr. Henry Fabro of the NBP Hospital said that the identification of the remains is under a different unit of the BuCor.

"They have their protocols po noh? They have their protocols to follow and I think, they follow it to the dot...So they have their own protocols na sinusunod to identify the body," he said.

Fabro added they are only following guidelines set by the DOH. 

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