Wife questions transfer of Boratong from Bilibid to NBI

The National Bureau of Investigation. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The wife of drug convict Amin Imam Boratong asked the Supreme Court to return her husband to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and to restore his visitation rights.

In a nine-page petition for writ of habeas corpus, writ of amparo and writ of habeas data, Memie Sultan-Boratong through her lawyer Paul Laguatan said Boratong’s transfer to the NBI headquarters’ detention has no basis due to lack of a court order allowing such.

Boratong was among the 20 inmates transferred from the NBP to the NBI last Dec. 15 following a raid that led to the discovery of gadgets, appliances, posh items, illegal drugs, hot tubs, private gyms that revealed that high profile inmates were living like kings inside the state penitentiary.

The inmates transferred to the NBI will remain at the bureau until after the renovation of Building 14 at the NBP is finished. Building 14 will house high profile and high-risk inmates.

In her petition, Memie said her husband’s transfer is in violation of Presidential Decree No. 29, which mandates that prisoners sentenced to more than three years and one day are classified as national prisoners.

She added that pursuant to Circular No. 26-2000, national prisoners are committed to the NBP.

“No documents were released to justify the transfer of Amin Boratong to the NBI. The NBI detention facility is not an adjunct of the BuCor. There was not even a court order that would justify the transfer of the inmates. Boratong’s life sentence imposed upon him by the Regional Trial Court,” her petition stated.

“National prisoners are committed to the NBP. The NBI detention facility is not for the purpose of holding national prisoners,” she added.

Boratong was convicted and meted the penalty of life imprisonment in 2009 by the Pasig Court for operating a “shabu” flea market in Pasig.

She added that the refusal of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to allow Boratong’s counsel and family members to visit him is in violation of Republic Act 7438, an Act which defines certain rights of arrested and detained persons.