Video by INQUIRER.net’s Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines—An official of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) denied Thursday allegations that special treatment were given to high-profile inmates detained inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
“There’s no such thing as a VIP treatment. It is just the perception of the people,” Superintendent Celso Bravo of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) told INQUIRER.net in an interview.
Bravo also clarified that the golf carts and electronic bikes discovered inside the NBP were never used for the luxury of high-profile inmates.
“That is not true. The golf carts are not for their luxury and leisure,” he said.
Bureau of Corrections’ Superintendent Celso Bravo (left ) and NBP Superintendent Fajardo Lansangan (right). RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net
He explained that the said carts were used for “security patrolling and emergency and transportation services” inside the NBP.
According to him, the golf carts were used to transport inmates from their detention cell to the NBP hospital during emergency situations.
He added that the carts were useful in responding to criminal activities inside the compound.
“This is a big advantage for us,” he said citing it would be inconvenient to travel by foot considering the vast area of the NBP.
According to him, not a single centavo was shelled out from the government’s fund for the purchase of the golf carts.
“Not a single centavo was spent from the government to buy the golf carts. The inmates’ families brought the cart inside,” he said.
Contrary to reports, he said only 13 golf carts were inside the NBP and not 30 or 35 as mentioned in news reports.
He said all the 13 carts were already brought out from the NBP and were placed at the sunken garden near the Escorting Unit outside the maximum Security compound.
According to him, relatives of the detainees who own the golf carts may secure them as long as they could show “proof of ownership.”
Hospitalization of high-profile detainees
According to NBP Superintendent Fajardo Lansangan, inmates are allowed to seek medical treatment outside the NBP hospital on “emergency and life-threatening” situations.
Lansangan said he only approves medical treatment out of the NBP upon the recommendation of the NBP doctor.
He cited that the lack of medical equipment and apparatus in the NBP hospital forced them to allow inmates to seek medical treatment outside the compound.
“The NBP hospital does not have the equipment to attend to the inmates’ medical needs,” he said.
He, however, assured that all procedures are followed in granting this to the inmates.
In May, at least three high profile detainees were allowed to undergo medical treatment at private hospitals in Metro Manila.
Lansangan said all the inmates were already brought back to their detention cell inside NBP.
Ready to answer accusations
Lansangan said he is ready to answer all the allegations thrown against him in the proper venue.
On Wednesday, Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan announced the relief of Lansangan, and the security guards who escorted Ricardo Camata, the “Sigue-Sigue gang” commander who received treatment at Metropolitan Medical Center in Manila from May 28 to June 2.
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