Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has ordered an investigation into allegations that special privileges have been granted to high-profile inmates who testified against Senator Leila de Lima and are now being held at the custodial center of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Camp Aguinaldo.
The secretary has already tasked Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Benjamin Delos Santos to conduct the probe.
“The undersigned received confidential report that some of the inmates temporarily confined at the AFP Custodial and Detention Center at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City are enjoying special privileges,” Aguirre informed Delos Santos in a memorandum dated February 8.
“If so warranted by your investigation, any special privileges granted to these inmates, be it in the form of special favors, improvements and equipment in violation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the DND (Department of National Defense) and the DoJ (Department of Justice), shall be immediately confiscated or dismantled,” he said.
The investigation was ordered following accusations made by de Lima that Aguirre immediately restored the special privileges to the high-profile inmates after they testified before the House of Representatives committee on justice during inquiry on the proliferation of illegal drugs in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
The senator claimed that she has proof that Aguirre granted these special privileges which include the use of mobile phones and other communication gadgets.
Aguirre denied in a statement De Lima’s allegations against him.
“However, allow me to point out that Senator De Lima used the term ‘restores’, it only means that she is admitting that such privileges that she claims were restored were existing during her time as Secretary of Justice!” Aguirre pointed out.
Aguirre cited that when she was still Justice Secretary “such privileges abounded and were tolerated in the NBP.”
(JEFFREY G. DAMICOG)