Aguirre denies Jaybee Sebastian transfer request
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has ruled out the transfer of high-profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian to the Maximum Security Compound once he recovers from his surgery.
Sebastian, the alleged government asset during the time of former Justice Secretary and now Senator Leila De Lima sustained multiple puncture wounds in a riot last week inside Building 14.
READ: De Lima Bilibid ‘asset’ hurt in riot; high-profile inmate killed
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge Rolando Asuncion said Sebastian requested that he be returned to the Maximum Security Compound once he recovers.
Asuncion himself was puzzled by the request considering the crowded Maximum Prison with a capacity of 4,000 but is currently occupied by 16,000 inmates.
Aguirre said Sebastian, who allegedly led the drug transactions inside the prison, cannot go back to the Maximum Compound because that is where all the drug transactions are taking place.
READ: Sebastian asks for transfer to NBP maximum security compound
“Hindi maaari kasi andun nga lahat ng transaksyon. Baka magkagulo ulit. So bakit ko sila ilalagay ulit sa lugar na maaari silang magtransaksyon ulit (We can’t let him go back to the Maximum Prison because all the transactions are there. There could be another riot. So why would I put them in a place where they could transact again)?” Aguirre said.
Aguirre said Sebastian and fellow high-profile inmates Peter Co and Vicente Sy will return to Building 14.
The DOJ chief said they might also transfer Sebastian to other penal colonies managed by the BuCor as another option.
“Maaring sa ibang penal colonies at least hindi na sila magsasaksakan doon (We could transfer him to other penal colonies so they would have no chance of stabbing one another),” Aguirre added.
Aside from the New Bilibid Prison, the BuCor also operates six other panel facilities, namely, the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City, Davao Prison and Penal Farm, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm, Leyte Regional Prison and the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm. RAM
