Tunnel for death row inmates?

Death row inmates may have been eyeing the use of a tunnel at the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City for a possible escape, prison officials said yesterday.

"We believe death row inmates may have wanted to use the tunnels to escape because it was found near a drainage going to the death row building," Bureau of Corrections Director Ricardo Macala said in a telephone interview yesterday.

Macala also exonerated the jail guards from any liability, saying the discovery of the tunnel was immediately relayed to their commander. An inmate had tipped authorities about the tunnel being dug little by little.

Macala said some of those on death row could have colluded with other inmates with lighter penalties since the latter were free to roam the nine-hectare maximum security compound. Death row inmates are not allowed to leave the building.

He said there are now five inmates whom authorities suspect to have dug the short tunnel.

The tunnel, measuring two feet by two feet, was discovered in between two chapels near Building 1 Dorm C, where death row inmates are confined. There are 317 inmates at the building, 99 of whom have death sentences affirmed by the Supreme Court.

The suspected tunnel diggers have been transferred to different cells while cell leaders or mayores in Building 1 have been moved to other dormitories, Macala said.

Elections were also held for new cell leaders among the death row inmates because in an agreement with prison authorities, the mayores will be held responsible for the actions of their cell mates, Macala said.

"Our theory is the tunnel would not have been planned without the knowledge of these leaders. But I admit we don’t have any evidence against them because it’s easy for inmates to cover up for their companions," Macala said.

The escape tunnel, which leads to a river outside the walled NBP facility, has been closed, Macala said.

He added that authorities have inspected every inch of the maximum security compound for more escape tunnels. None have been found, Macala said.

He recalled that 20 inmates escaped through a tunnel in the 1980s.