The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Tuesday showed photos of convicted kidnapper Jaybee Sebastian before he was cremated on Saturday to address suspicions that he was still alive.
In Marisol Abdurahman’s report on “24 Oras,” BuCor also showed to GMA News Sebastian’s death certificate and those of eight other prisoners who died of COVID-19.
The agency also presented the COVID-19 swab test results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, as promised by BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag in a separate interview.
Dr. Henry Fabro, the New Bilibid Prison Hospital director, personally read Jaybee Sebastian’s cause of death, which was myocardial infarction as a complication of the new coronavirus.
According to Atty. Hobert, BuCor legal officer, they are also ready to present the deceased inmates’ medical records if needed.
“The document would speak for itself naman, ‘di ba? So what do we need to prove ba based on that matter?” Luz said.
“So as to the issue naman kung sinasabi ng iba na baka may ibang tao ‘yan na nakalabas or what, ‘di naman sa amin nanggaling ‘yon eh so is that our burden to prove kung totoo man ‘yon, ‘di ba? Kasi kami, as far as we are concerned, eh ito lang ‘yong pinagbabasehan namin,” he added.
(To the issue when others say that maybe someone else came out or what, it didn’t come from us, so it is our burden to prove if that is true, right? Because we, as far as we are concerned, we just based on these.)
Also read: BuCor chief says swab test of Jaybee Sebastian submitted to RITM
Meanwhile, BuCor spokesperson Colonel Gabriel Chaclag, said the inmates’ family were informed that their relative was infected.
Chaclag added the families were also aware of the cremation.
“It’s a regular process, so rest assured na lahat po ng processes na ginagawa sa PDL, lalo na sa usapin ng cremation of the remains, we try every avenue to contact the relatives of the PDL,” Chaclag said.
However, he said they were not able to inform some because their contact numbers were not updated.
“We cannot wait for the response of the family if we cannot contact within 12 hours kailangan naitn ma-fulfill na ‘yong guideline ng DOH,” Chaclag said.
The Department of Health and the Department of the Interior and Local Government mandates the cremation of an inmate who died of COVID-19 within 12 hours to prevent the spread of the virus.