Bilibid head sacked

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday ordered the relief of New Bilibid Prison superintendent Fajardo Lansangan over the alleged VIP treatment of high-profile inmates and other irregularities at the NBP in Muntinlupa City.

Apart from Lansangan, DOJ Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III said 12 jail guards were also relieved over the confinement of three high-profile convicts in private hospitals.

NBP deputy superintendent Robert Ravo was designated officer-in-charge of the prison facility.

Last month, convicted drug lord and Sigue Sigue Sputnik gang commander Ricardo Camata was taken to the Metropolitan Hospital in Manila due to a lung ailment. He was allegedly entertained by starlets and television dancers in his hospital room.

An NBP medical officer said Camata has been discharged from the hospital and taken back to the maximum security compound.

Herbert Colangco, alias Ampang, leader of the bank robbery gang responsible for the heists in Pampanga in 2003 and Quezon City and Parañaque in 2005, was also brought to the Asian Hospital and Medical Center for treatment of a urinary tract infection.

Earlier, Amin Buratong, the operator of the drug flea market smashed by the police in Pasig, was taken to the Medical City due to coronary artery disease and a liver ailment.

The medical officer disclosed that two other NBP inmates are confined at the Philippine General Hospital and at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute. He, however, declined to identify the inmates.

On orders of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Baraan conducted yesterday an ocular inspection of the NBP’s maximum security compound where convicted Chinese drug lords and bank robbers are allegedly living in luxury.

Baraan said some 14,500 prisoners are serving time in the maximum security compound.