Rob gang boss under tight watch in hospital

MANILA, Philippines - More security personnel were deployed yesterday to guard the alleged leader of the Ozamis robbery group, who is confined in a private hospital in Muntinlupa for a kidney ailment.

New Bilibid Prison (NBP) superintendent Fajardo Lansangan said Herbert “Ampang” Colangco, who had been serving time at the maximum security compound, was rushed to the Asian Hospital in Alabang Tuesday night upon the recommendation of the prison physician.

“He will undergo kidney operation and may stay in the hospital for recuperation,” Lansangan told The STAR.

He said Colangco refused to be brought to the hospital for security reasons, but was prevailed upon by doctors as his condition became worse.

“Prisoners in the maximum security compound have the right to medical treatment,” Lansangan said, adding the prisoners would pay for their hospital expenses.

He said the NBP coordinated with the Southern Police District for the security of Colangco.

Colangco and his group had been tagged in a robbery at the Rizal Commercial Bank in Laguna in 2008.

Police described the Cabuyao bank heist as one of the bloodiest as it left 10 people dead. Nine of the victims were killed on the spot. Another died in a hospital.

Colangco was sentenced to 12 years in prison for another bank robbery in 2009.

“He is undergoing trial for robbery with multiple homicide for the RCBC heist and a string of other robbery cases,” Lansangan said.

Colangco, a native of Ozamis City, is among the 189 high profile convicts at the NBP’s maximum security compound.

Authorities describe him as the leader of the Ozamis robbery gang, which was recently tagged by a group of prisoners as the donor of P1.2 million for the upgrade of the prison hospital and for the medicine of sick prisoners.

Lansangan denied the allegations, saying the funds for the renovation of the NBP hospital came from the International Committee of the Red Cross.