Ex-justice exec denies drug lord’s allegations

Former Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III has dismissed as “complete nonsense” accusations of convicted bank robber Herbert Colanggo that he profited from the transfer of  high-profile prisoners inside New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

In his testimony in the House of Representatives hearing on the illegal drug activities in  NBP, Colanggo claimed that Baraan had asked for P500,000 in exchange for the transfer of a prisoner from one compound to another through a certain “Susan,” said to be the official’s bagman.

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director, Baraan said in a statement, has the sole discretion in the transfer of inmates from medium to maximum-security cells without the approval of the justice secretary.

Baraan said Director Maria Charina Dy-Po of the Department of Justice (DOJ) technical staff and any BuCor director would attest to his claim.

“I did not have that authority to cause or order any such transfer. We did not even know who were transferred and where, when, why were the transfers made,” he said.

“Colanggo’s claim is complete nonsense,” Baraan said, referring to the name the inmate is commonly known for. “I challenge him to produce any document that shows I approved any transfer of inmates within the Bilibid compound.”

He pointed out that DOJ technical staff was under the office of another DOJ undersecretary. Colanggo claimed that “Susan” got in touch with his talent manager, Reynante Diaz, on the cost of transferring inmates at NBP.

“I do not personally know of any employee in the technical staff whose name is Susan. I inquired from Director Dy-Po and she informed me that two employees in her office carry that name. What I am certain of is that I do not have—with either of them—that kind of dealing that Colanggo generally described in his outlandish claim. What he claimed is a total impossibility insofar as I am concerned,” Baraan said.

Baraan and his brother, former Pangasinan provincial administrator Rafael Baraan, were both named by President Duterte in a drug matrix showing Sen. Leila de Lima’s alleged conspirators in her drug protection racket. Reports from Gil Cabacungan and Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon