News
Nothing amiss with transfer of convicts to Marine barracks: DOJ
FILE: Justice Secretary and Justice Sector Coordinating Council principal Menardo I. Guevarra lauds the innovations of the Angeles City Justice sector which qualified it to become a Justice Zone.
(Carmela Jane F. Villar/PIA 3)
MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday said there is nothing wrong with the transfer of convicts from the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), including witnesses in the drug charges against Senator Leila de Lima, to the Philippine Marines Corps barracks in Taguig City.
“Hindi lang naman witnesses (It’s not only the witnesses). There are other persons whose personal security are at risk. Kaya sila nilipat pansamantala. Hindi naman ito permanent ha. Pansamantala lang ito sa marine barracks, (That is why they were transferred temporarily. It is not permanent). Take note, mas secure ‘yung lugar na yun kaya nga dun nilalagay, (the place is more secure). Hindi naman ito nilalagay sa first class na accommodation. That is the context. But what happened after the proposal was broached to me, hindi ko na talaga exactly alam (I don’t exactly know) what transpired after that,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told reporters.
Earlier reports said among the inmates from the NBP’s Building 14, who were transferred to the Marines Barracks Rudiardo Brown, is convicted drug lord Peter Co, who took the witness stand against de Lima on her supposed drug links while she was still secretary of justice.
Also transferred to the Marines facility were convicts Hans Anton Tan, Jojo Baligad, Vicente Sy, Froilan Trestiza, Nonilo Arile and Joel Capones, who also testified against de Lima; Chua Che Ket, Rico Caja and Allan Senogat.
“As long as a court approval was secured by the BuCor (Bureau of Corrections) officials, the transfer would be legal since the intention is not to provide any special treatment but to secure precisely these people who are to my understanding or recollection will be or are witnesses in an existing case. So it’s not for the purpose of giving them special treatment but because their personal security is under threat,” Guevarra said.
He said the matter of documentary compliance to requirements is generally left to the level of the BuCor without the DOJ’s participation.
“I am not sure about that because I was just informed regarding the proposal. What happened afterwards if the appropriate documentation was done or court approval was secured, I am not privy after that,” Guevarra said.
He said the DOJ exercises general administrative supervision only with respect to the BuCor and does not interfere with its day-to-day operations.
“We are in charge of prosecuting cases. In addition to that, we are the office of the attorney general. Besides that, we oversee many other agencies like BI (Bureau of Immigration), NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) so many other agencies. We cannot monitor day-to-day the actual operations of these agencies. I hope you understand all of that,” Guevarra said.
