The Senate wants to determine if high-value convicts linked to drug trafficking from behind bars are more susceptible to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) following the deaths of several inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Senate President Vicente Sotto III pushed for the investigation as he filed a resolution yesterday seeking an inquiry into the deaths of 21 inmates due to the coronavirus plus 24 others suspected to be COVID cases amid rumors of body-switching and failure of NBP officials to follow protocols in cremating bodies.
“Due to unclear, inaccurate and unverified reports, speculations are now being made as to whether or not these NBP inmates actually died due to COVID-19,” Sotto said in his Resolution 468.
He cited reports that no autopsies were conducted on the bodies, and these were cremated without being removed from body bags.
Sotto also cited a report from a police official who theorized that the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) could have simply declared the death of a high-value inmate and had the body of another inmate cremated.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday confirmed that high-value convict Jaybee Niño Sebastian, who testified against Sen. Leila de Lima in her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade in the NBP, had died of COVID-19.
DOJ Undersecretary Markk Perete said that during a two-hour meeting of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra with BuCor director general Gerald Bantag, it was disclosed that the 40-year-old Sebastian died of the severe respiratory disease on July 17.
“As to Jaybee Sebastian, yes, BuCor has confirmed that he was cremated,” Perete said.
Bu hikaye The Philippine Star dergisinin July 21, 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Philippine Star dergisinin July 21, 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
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