De Lima okays relief of 2 NBP doctors, head guard

New Bilibid Prison. Monzonda / Wikipedia photo

MANILA, — Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima has approved the recommendation of Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III to relieve from their duties the two doctors of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) who gave “referrals” for the treatment in private hospitals of some high-profile inmates of NBP.

According to De Lima, she also approved the relief of the head guard of the NBP.

Ordered relieved in Department Order No. 405 were Dr. Gloria Achazo-Garcia, as acting hospital head, NBP Hospital; Dr. Ma. Cecilia V. Villanueva, as medical specialist I; and Prison Supt. Gabriel Magan as chief, NBP Prison Escort Unit.

The order took effect Monday.

The relieved NBP officials were also directed to explain on their questionable “referrals” on the outside hospital confinement of Ricardo Camata without prior written approval of the Secretary of Justice as well as the administrative complaint they will face on the reported female visitors of maximum security inmate Camata while confined at the Metropolitan Medical Center in Binondo, Manila.

De Lima said that the two doctors may face a complaint for neglect of duty and abuse of authority.

Likewise, De Lima ordered Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Franklin Bucayu to immediately effect the relief of the three NBP personnel and designate their temporary replacement in order not to hamper the operation of the NBP Hospital.

It was earlier reported that three high-profile inmates, namely Ricardo Camata and Amin Buratong, both convicted druglords; and Herbert Colangco, head of a robbery gang, were given “emergency referrals” for their confinement in private hospitals outside of the NBP.