DOJ probes hospital confinement of high-profile inmates

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has created a panel to conduct a fact-finding investigation into the confinement of high-profile inmates in hospitals outside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

In a department order released yesterday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima named Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III as panel head with National Bureau of Investigation Deputy Director for Intelligence Service Jose Doloiras and State Counsel Charles Cambaliza as members.

She cited the case of drug lord and Sigue Sigue Sputnik gang commander Ricardo Camata, bank robbery gang leader Herbert Colangco and shabu tiangge operator Amin Boratong, who were brought to the Metropolitan Medical Center, Asian Hospital and Medical Center and Medical City, respectively.

De Lima said the committee would determine any administrative or criminal liability of officials of the NBP and the Bureau of Corrections, which supervises the national penitentiary, over such alleged VIP treatment.

The DOJ has relieved NBP superintendent Fajardo Lansangan, NBP hospital head Gloria Achazo-Garcia, medical specialist Ma. Cecilia Villanueva, escort unit head prison superintendent Gabriel Magan and 12 jail guards over the hospitalization of Camata.

Baraan said only an emergency situation would justify the confinement of inmates in hospitals outside the national penitentiary. Closed-circuit television footage from the hospital showed that Camata was able to go in and out of his hospital room, use a mobile phone and accept visitors, including starlet Krista Miller.

De Lima gave the panel until July 18 to submit its report and recommendations, including possible measures to prevent similar incidents.