FORMER Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) director Franklin Bucayu revealed Thursday the reason why convicted kidnapper Jaybee Sebastian was excluded from the group of high profile New Bilibid Prison (NBP) inmates transferred to another prison facility.
Bucayu told a congressional inquiry that the intelligence group and law enforcement group involved in the December 2014 raid chose not to transfer Sebastian in the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) along with other 19 high profile inmates as his transfer could lead to riots inside the NBP's maximum security compound.
"Napili ng consensus ng grupo na si Jaybee ang maiwan sa paniniwalang siya ay manageable at cooperative upang di magkagulo ang mga gangs, right after the segregation of the 19," Bucayu said.
Bucayo explained that riots will erupt inside the maximum if they will leave the inmates leaderless.
"Ang ating piitan hindi di-rehas. Magkakaron ng riot kung walang leadership," he said. "May possibility na magiging violent sila, magkakaron ng rush for leadership."
He added that the NBP has no segregation facility, meaning the inmates can freely roam around inside the Bilibid even without strict security.
Bacayu said that is the reason why the jail guards, uses gang leaders to maintain peace and order inside the colony.
He clarified that Sebastian's status back then as the leader of the maximum security compound was only temporary.
"Yung pag-iwan namin kay Sebastian very temporary...That time pinapagawa pa po namin ang building 14," he said.
According to Bucayu, he tried asking then Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to give Bucor a budget to build small capacity jails that can house at least 100 inmates to avoid rumbles and illegal drug activities inside the NBP but the officers higher than him, according to Bucayu did not give in to his demands.
"Ang hiningi ko pong tulong ay ako na bigyan po ang bucor ng budget upang makagawa ng small capacity jail na kaya magkulong ng 100-200 para yung mga high profile inmate ay maisegregate po natin ng sa ganun matigil ang ilegal na gawain," he said.
"Ang alam ko po isinubmit po niya [de Lima] ang aking mga request pero wala pong nabigay na suporta," Bucayu added.
The gang leaders who testified in the previous House hearings alleged that the transfer of the so-called Bilibid 19 was done to make Sebastian the top drug trader inside the maximum security compound.
The drug money Sebastian raised by being the major drug lord inside the maximum, according to the inmates, were contributed to de Lima's senatorial bid in the May 9 polls.
The House committee on justice continues to investigate the alleged proliferation of illegal drugs and drug trade inside the NBP.
(Sunnex)