Pickpocket victim Escudero wants disciplinary action at NBP lifted

House Minority Leader and Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero has appealed to authorities at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) to lift the temporary suspension of Christmas visits at the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City, where he lost his wallet last Thursday in the middle of a gift-giving program and under heavy security of prison guards and police aides.

Escudero said relatives of other inmates who had nothing to do with the incident should be spared and not be deprived of their right to visit loved ones at the NBP, especially as Christmas approaches.

The lawmaker noted that the disciplinary action targeting the inmate who stole his wallet "may be too harsh" as he appealed to Bureau of Corrections Director Vicente Vinarao to lift the suspension on visits at NBP.

Escudero, with 10 fellow minority bloc congressmen and four police aides, visited the maximum security compound for a dialogue and gift-giving program with inmates last Dec. 2.

When the program at the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish was about to end, he realized that his wallet was missing. Vinarao then ordered an investigation into the incident and ordered the suspension of visits.

Relatives of inmates have been appealing to authorities to lift the suspension.

"The suspension is temporary. We have to teach them (suspects) a lesson," Vinarao said in an interview with The STAR. "We already coordinated with leaders of each gang."

He noted that three inmates who claimed to have witnessed the incident pointed to two fellow inmates. He said the case has been raised with the Board of Discipline.

If proven guilty for violating prison rules, the suspects would be deprived of visits and transferred to a disciplinary cell. The BuCor chief also said they might also have to delay the suspects’ good conduct time allowance, which is an important requirement for parole.

Prison officials admitted that they themselves were surprised that the incident took place.

"We’re not exactly blaming the congressman’s aides from the Philippine National Police because we have a responsibility too. But we can’t see how the pickpocket got his wallet if his aides had a close eye on him," said one NBP official.

Escudero earlier said he would still go back inside the national penitentiary despite the incident.