One of Abadilla 5 convicts transferred to penal colony

MANILA, Philippines–One of the so-called Abadilla 5 convicts has been taken to Sablayan Penal Colony after prison authorities seized gambling paraphernalia from him, according to Atty. Manuel Co, New Bilibid Prisons officer in charge.

Co informed Justice Secretary Leila De Lima during her visit inside the national penitentiary Wednesday that SPO2 Rameses de Jesus is one of the 26 convicts transferred to Sablayan.

Co said the 26 inmates are composed of Filipino and Chinese inmates some of whom, like De Jesus, were caught in possession of gambling paraphernalias. The rest were caught in possession of drug paraphernalias. They were taken to Sablayan during the time of NBP Superintendent Ernesto Diokno.

De Lima personally talked to the Abadilla 5 to personally inform them that she would help them in their application for an executive clemency.

After she came face to face with SPO2 Cesar Fortuna, Lenido Lumanog, Joel De Jesus, and Augusto Santos, De Lima asked for Rameses de Jesus which prompted Co to explain the latter’s location.

“Gambling paraphernalias? Is that a penalty (transfer to a penal colony)? I need a report on that,” De Lima told Co.

The five were convicted for the death of Colonel Rolando Abadilla, former Chief of the Metropolitan Command Intelligence and Security Group (MISG) of the Philippine Constabulary, now the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The five said they were fall guys and that they were only tortured by the police to admit to the killing.

Relatives of the five convicts sent separate letters to De Lima asking that she help them in asking President Benigno Aquino III to grant them pardon.

Abadilla was ambushed in broad daylight while driving along Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City on June 13, 1996.