Aguirre revokes drug lords’ transfer

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

In Department Order 496, Aguirre directed Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge Rey Ragaas to immediately return the convicted drug lords from the medium security compound to their original detention facility.

Among those transferred earlier to the medium security compound were inmates Vicente Sy, Jojo Baligad and Peter Co – three of the key witnesses in the drug trafficking cases against De Lima.

Aguirre’s directive revealed that the inmates were transferred from Building 14 – specially renovated to house high-risk inmates – in the maximum security compound in December last year under BuCor director Benjamin delos Santos, who recently resigned from his post following the resurgence of illegal drugs trade inside the national penitentiary.

“All subsequent transfer of the high-profile inmates and/or inmates convicted of offenses related to illegal drugs within the NBP shall be signed and approved by the Secretary of Justice,” read the order.

Aguirre gave Ragaas 10 days to submit a report that should indicate the names of the affected inmates and the reasons for their transfer.

Prior to their testimonies against De Lima in the House of Representatives inquiry on the illegal drug trade in the NBP, eight convicted drug lords, including Herbert Colangco and Noel Martinez, were transferred to the facility controlled by the Intelligence Service of the AFP (ISAFP) in Camp Aguinaldo in September last year. Others – including drug lord Jaybee Sebastian – remained in the NBP.

Delos Santos tendered his irrevocable and immediate resignation last July 13 after Aguirre revealed that the illegal drug trade has resumed inside the NBP. He said the resurgence of drug trade has made his position irrelevant.

Although Aguirre asked him to stay until President Duterte decides on his resignation, the BuCor chief has not reported to work since. The three are brothers in the Lex Talionis fraternity in San Beda College law school.

Delos Santos served the bureau for eight months since his appointment in November last year. His resignation came after Aguirre ordered the National Bureau of Investigation Director Dante Gierran to probe the resurgence of drug trade in the NBP and to file the appropriate administrative and criminal cases against those responsible.

The DOJ chief has confirmed the resurgence of illegal drug trade in the NBP and bared plans to replace the contingency of police Special Action Force commandos guarding the national penitentiary.