Drug lord, 2 witnesses face off on NBP blast

MANILA, Philippines - Convicted drug lord Tony Co and two inmates, who testified against him in connection with the fatal blast in New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in January, faced off for the first time at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday.

Together with their lawyers, they attended the first preliminary investigation hearing into the Jan. 8 explosion that Co allegedly masterminded in order to kill Jaybee Sebastian, his reported competitor in the illegal drug trade within the NBP.

“Co denied the charges, but Joey (Aquino) and Luther (Sabado) were adamant in their testimonies,” a source privy to the investigation told The STAR.

The source added that Co, who submitted his counter affidavit, simply dismissed his accusers as: “Mga loko lang talaga ‘yan (They’re just crazy).”

The investigation was done in the NBI because Co, together with 18 other high-profile inmates, was transferred to the bureau last December to curb their illegal drug business, which they reportedly continue to operate with the help of Bureau of Corrections officials and jail guards.

The 19 are competitors of Sebastian, who allegedly continues to receive VIP treatment in the state penitentiary despite orders against it coming from the Department of Justice.

After the explosion, Aquino and Sabado were moved to the NBI. The source said “their lives are in danger” after they divulged what they knew of the blast that killed inmate Jojo Fampo and wounded 19 others.

Their testimonies were among those used to file charges against Co, Jerson Dasmariñas, Rosendo Brillo, Nino Garin, Richard Nunez, Heherson Lensico, a certain Gerry Tilkapia and certain Baldwin.

Witnesses said Co ordered the grenade attack after Sebastian ordered all inmates who have outstanding debts to Co not to pay up.

Dasmarinas allegedly supervised the attack while Brillo lobbed the grenade.

At around 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 8, Aquino and Sabado saw Brillo lob the grenade near the hallway where Sebastian stood. Brillo missed the target because Sebastian walked away before the hand grenade exploded.