‘Napaka-imposible’: BuCor debunks ‘conspiracy theories’ on deaths of high-profile inmates

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Thursday renounced speculations that the high-profile inmates earlier reported to have died of coronavirus disease were just allowed to be released from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

“Hindi naman po totoo yan. Marami pong nakakita at napakaimposible pong mangyari. Kung conspiracy, talagang grand conspiracy kasi it will involve hundreds of personnel so hindi po pwede ‘yon. So we want to assure the public na hindi po totoo ‘yon,” BuCor spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag said in a televised public briefing.

“Hindi po tayo nasisilaw sa anumang monetary consideration kung ‘yun ang insinuation nila,” he added.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier confirmed that nine high-profile inmates from the NBP died of COVID-19, including Jaybee Sebastian, a convicted kidnapper and car thief who served as a witness and co-accused in one of the drug charges against opposition Senator Leila de Lima.

However, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag refused to publicize the names of the inmates citing the Data Privacy Act, which protects persons from unauthorized processing of their personal information.

This sparked rumors that the COVID-19 deaths of the high-profile inmates were a ruse for their escape.

But Chaclag insisted that the deaths of the Bilibid inmates are well documented and witnessed by BuCor personnel as well as other inmates.

“Hindi lang po personnel ng BuCor kundi pati mga personnel ng partner agencies natin at ito naman po ay marami ding nakakita na PDLs (persons deprived of liberties)… Meron tayong documentation. We have pictures and we have our doctors whom we trust,” he said.

EDV