Prison doctors, head guard sacked over inmate’s VIP treatment

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) relieved two New Bilibid Prison (NBP) doctors and the penitentiary’s head guard for mishandling the medical needs of an allegedly favored inmate.

They may be charged with neglect of duty and abuse of authority along with other prison officials earlier relieved over the same incident.

In a department order (DO) released Monday, June 16, De Lima instructed Bureau of Correction (BuCor) Director Franklin Jesus Bucayu to relieve the following:

• Acting NBP Hospital Head Gloria Achazo Garcia
• NBP Hospital Medical Specialist I Ma. Cecilia Villanueva
• NBP Escort Unit Chief Gabriel Magan 

The 3 were sacked over the offsite hospitalization of convicted drug lord Ricardo Camata, who is suffering from lung disease.

The high-profile inmate was confined at the Metropolitan Hospital in Manila, where entertainers allegedly spent the night with him during his stay.

DOJ Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, who handled the investigation into the hospitalization of Camata, earlier said the inmate was visited by television personality Krista Miller. He said Miller even stayed “until the wee hours in the morning.”

Upon Baraan’s recommendation, the DOJ earlier sacked NBP Superintendent Fajardo Lansangan and 12 other prison guards over the incident. 

The incident has sparked discussion over the special treatment afforded to select inmates in the NBP. (READ: NBP reforms sought, including site transfer)

The NBP is maintained by the BuCor, an agency under the DOJ.

In a chance interview on Monday, De Lima said she would order a probe into incidents similar to Camata’s.

“Tomorrow, I’ll be issuing another DO formally constituting a fact-finding committee to further look into other similar cases of high-profile inmates being allowed to go outside hospital confinement without compliance with the rules,” she said.

The committee will be headed by Baraan. – Rappler.com