MANILA, Philippines - Many were taken by surprise when media outfits reported about the existence of the so-called “VIP inmates” at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City on Monday.
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But based on previous reports, the existence of convicted robbery gang leader and recording artist Herbert Colangco should not be a surprise at all.
According to previous reports published in the Star, Colangco--also known as Herbert C.--is an award-winning singer. He was given the New Male Recording Artist of the Year award at the 2014 Philippine Movie Press Club Star Awards for Music for his album “Kinabukasan.”
His album was released by Ivory Music.
He tied with actor Richard Yap for the award.
“It will help people remember me for my music and not for what got me into prison,” he said in a release published in the STAR on October.
Prior to the award, the same album was given the platinum record award last April.
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In the Philippines, an album has to sell 15,00 copies to receive the platinum record award.
Other albums given the platinum record award in the past include
“Paglabas ko dito gusto kong mag-perform sa concerts para mas marami akong mapasaya,” he said in an interview with the STAR last May.
In an article published last July, Remy Umerez wrote that Colangco’s album reached the platinum status only two months after its release. He also wrote “Robin Padilla (through stuntman-director Val Iglesias) expressed his interest in filming Herbert’s life.”
“Natutuwa ako na may interesadong gawing pelikula ang buhay ko at hindi ako tutol kung kapupulutan ito ng aral sa mga naliligaw ng landas. Kaya lang, sa ngayon ay naka-sentro ako sa pagkanta. Bata pa lamang ako ay hilig ko na ang umawit at palasali ako sa mga amateur contest. Hindi ko inakalang magiging recording artist ako,” Colangco told the STAR in an interview last July.
“Understandably, Herbert C. has a gold mine of emotional baggage to extract from that helped him convincingly deliver the five songs tightly packed in his album titled Kinabukasan and distributed by Ivory Music and Video,” said a review of Colangco’s album published last April.
READ: Rob gang boss' music video shot in Bilibid resurfaces
On Monday, authorities discovered a room with an entertainment set and amenities while conducting a drug raid inside the New Bilibid Prison.
About 100 agents of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police accompanied by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima raided the detention facility, which is suspected of being used in the illegal drugs operation led by 19 Chinese inmates.
Colangco’s music video for hs song “Pa’no Yon” was recorded while he was inside the New Bilibid Prison.
Colangco was sentenced in 2009 as a leader of bank robbery syndicates responsible for heists in Pampanga in 2003 and Quezon City and Paranaque in 2005.