Aguirre orders return of high-profile inmates to maximum security

Justice Sec. Vitaliano Aguirre II. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday ordered the immediate return of high-profile inmates, who earlier testified against detained Sen. Leila de Lima, to their original cells at the maximum security compound inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

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In a directive to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Aguirre ordered BuCor officer-in-charge Rey Raagas to immediately return the convicted drug lords from the medium security compound to their original detention facility. Bilibid is one of the seven penal institutions operated by the BuCor.

Aguirre signed the Department Order No.496 on July 24.

Aguirre, in the same order, also required Raagas to submit an inventory of all the inmates who were previously transferred to another detention facility within Bilibid including the reason for such transfer.

Among those transferred to the medium security compound—a less secured facility in NBP as compared to the maximum security compound—were inmates Vicente Sy, Jojo Baligad, and Peter Co, three of the key witnesses in the drug trafficking cases against De Lima. Information about the transfer came out only after Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald dela Rosa visited Bilibid early this month.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has been mum about the reason for the transfer.

When asked if the three will be among those that will be moved back to the Maximum Security Compound and if there are other inmates that will be transferred, the DOJ said the media could go and ask BuCor directly.

However, upon confirmation from the BuCor, an official said that they are clueless on who the inmates that the DOJ wants to immediately transfer.

Informed of BuCor’s response, Justice Undersecretary Erickson Balmes said the DOJ and BuCor will still have to meet within the week. JPV/rga