2 convicts fail to get writ of amparo

MANILA, Philippines - The families of two high-profile convicts have failed to convince the Supreme Court (SC) to issue a writ of amparo against their transfer from the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detention facility in Manila.

In a session last Tuesday, the SC justices dismissed outright the amparo petitions of the wife of drug lord Amin Imam Boratong and a cousin of robbery gang leader Herbert Colangco for lack of merit.

The SC also dismissed Boratong’s prayer for the issuance of writ of habeas data.

However, the SC did not rule yet on Boratong’s plea for the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus.

The SC required the respondents – the Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Corrections and NBI – to answer the plea within 10 days from receipt of notice.

The petitioners questioned the transfer of Boratong and Colangco to the NBI detention center in Manila in the absence of a court order.

They also assailed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s order to bar the inmates’ lawyers and family members from visiting them at the NBI, citing Republic Act 7438, which defines the rights of arrested and detained persons.

The petitioners urged the SC to order the DOJ to return Boratong and Colangco to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

The two inmates, along with 17 others, were transferred to the NBI following a raid on the NBP’s maximum security compound. The raiding team found drugs, cash, sex toys, a Jacuzzi and other contraband in the inmates’ luxury kubols or prison huts.