‘Transfer of convicts who testified vs De Lima not irregular’

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice defended yesterday the decision of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to transfer at least 10 high-profile inmates, including those who have testified against detained opposition Sen. Leila de Lima in the alleged drug trade in the bureau.  

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he does not see anything wrong if the BuCor transferred the high-profile inmates to the Marines’ barracks in Taguig City as he cited security concerns as the reason for their transfer. 

Guevarra added that there is no irregularity in the transfer if it was made through a court order.  

“As long as a court approval is secured, I guess that should be okay because the intention is not to provide any special treatment, but to secure precisely these people who, to my understanding or recollection, will be or are witnesses in an existing case,” Guevarra told reporters. 

“So it’s not for the purpose of giving them special treatment, but because their personal security is under threat,” he added. ?

However, he is not entirely sure if the transfer was covered with a court order, explaining that he was no longer privy to what happened after the transfer proposal was made.?

Guevarra’s reaction stemmed from a CNN report, which said sacked BuCor chief Nicanor Faeldon approved on June 12 the transfer of Hans Anton Tan, Jojo Baligad, Vicente Sy, Froilan Trestiza, Nonilo Arile and Joel Capones who testified against De Lima in the alleged illegal drug trade in New Bilibid Prison (NBP). 

The report also said that inmates Chua Che Ket, Rico Caja and Allan Senogat were also transferred to the Marine barracks in Taguig City. – With Jaime Laude