MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Tuesday ordered the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to give him a report regarding the information that an inmate inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) was the one who hired the gunman to kill broadcaster Percy Lapid.
“I will ask DG (Director General Gerald) Bantag to give a report on this,” Remulla said at a press conference.
He said he would also request Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos to brief him about gunman Joel Escorial’s testimony.
Remulla assured that they would protect the witness who would provide information regarding the Bilibid inmate and the mastermind.
Meanwhile, BuCor Spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag said Bantag has already ordered the Bilibid Superintendent to conduct an investigation and submit a report within the day.
“It is wrong in all sense that a prisoner can still be able to communicate with his cohorts to perform criminal acts outside. We, in BuCor, will not tolerate this, and we are open to any inquiry as we are serious in our job and would always endeavor to improve our systems if indeed there had been lapses. We will update everyone once we have enough references po,” Chaclag said in a statement.
Bilibid is one of the seven penitentiaries operated by BuCor.
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