Senator Richard Gordon and Franklin Drilon said the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) lacks “sterling record” to prove that the cremated inmates in New Bilibid Prison indeed died of COVID-19.
Gordon, who was the chair of the blue ribbon and justice committees, the public could not easily trust and accept BuCor’s claims that 21 “persons deprived of liberty” (PDL) – including nine high-profile inmates succumbed to the disease and were immediately cremated.
“They don’t have a sterling record. They have not earned public trust sa tingin ko. Sa dami ng lagayan diyan, sa dami ng nangyayari, may mga ’tilapiang’ pumapasok, pati mga doktor nababayaran at tapos biglang mamamatayan ka?” Gordon said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.
(They don’t have a sterling record. For me, they have not earned public trust. With all the corruption there, ’tilapia’ entering, bribing of doctors, and now there’s a sudden death of inmates?)
“You cannot cheat the hangman. Di mo puwede dayain ang gobyerno at ang hustisya (you cannot cheat the government and justice),” he added.
Also read: BuCor presents photos of Jaybee Sebastian’s remains
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, he would be in favor of removing BuCor chief Gerald Bantag from his position for withholding information about the deaths of the inmates.
Bantag had repeatedly used the Data Privacy Act when he was asked to reveal the identities of the COVID-19 fatalities at the national penitentiary.
“I am tempted to say fire him and dismiss him because he appears to be oblivious of the issue of public interest. We, lawyers, have that principle in public offices, public officials are presumed to be performing their official functions. However, that presumption cannot be applied to the BuCor because of the record of past anomalies,” Drilon said in an interview on ANC.
“This presumption of regularity in the performance of official duties cannot be maintained, because the people have no longer confidence in the officials of BuCor,” he added.
National Privacy Commission Chairman and Commissioner Raymund Liboro earlier said that the Data Privacy Act should not be used in denying the public’s right to know.
BuCor showed GMA News the photos of Jaybee Sebastian’s remains before he was cremated. Sebastian was one of the high-profile inmates who allegedly died of COVID-19.