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MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has formed a three-member fact-finding body to investigate incidents involving the unauthorized movement of inmates outside Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) facilities.
De Lima created the fact-finding committee through Department Order No. 435 signed on June 17, copies of which were released to the media on Thursday, June 19.
The committee, chaired by Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, will investigate among others the case of convicted drug lord Ricardo Camata, who reportedly received special treatment from National Bilibid Prison (NBP) officials.
The other members are Jose Doloiras, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Deputy Director, and state counsel Charles Cambaliza.
“Said Fact-Finding Committee shall be mandated to investigate further the incident involving inmate Ricardo Camata, as well as validate and probe other similar recent incidents involving other high-profile inmates, towards the end of gathering and evaluating relevant information,” de Lima said in issuing DO 435.
It will determine and recommend whether BuCor officials and personnel face administrative and/or criminal liability in allowing Camata to be confined in an outside medical facility without authoritization from the Justice Secretary, and for allowing him to have “unmonitored guests” during his confinement.
The body will also perform the same mandate on other similar incidents.
It will recommend appropriate measures to prevent future occurrences, including the drafting of guidelines and/or regulations defining the responsibilities and actions of all involved before, during and after similar incidents of emergency hospitalization and/or outside medical consultations.
The fact-finding body will submit its report to De Lima by July 18.
On June 4, BuCor Director Franklin Jesus Bucayu sacked NBP superintendent Fajardo Lansangan and 12 prison guards over the mishandling of the health needs of Camata, who has lung disease.
On June 16, Bucayu relieved two New Bilibid Prison (NBP) doctors and the penitentiary’s head guard – Acting NBP Hospital Head Gloria Achazo Garcia, NBP Hospital Medical Specialist I Ma. Cecilia Villanueva and NBP Escort Unit Chief Gabriel Magan – because of the same incident.
Camata, commander of prison gang Sigue Sigue Sputnik, was allegedly visited and accompanied for the night by entertainers during his stay at the Metropolitan Hospital in Manila.
The BuCor – which maintains the NBP – is an agency under the DOJ. The NBP is the country’s main penitentiary. – Rappler.com
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