DOJ to probe murder raps vs cops in Bilibid deaths
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to conduct a formal preliminary investigation into the murder charges filed against 22 police officers allegedly involved in the death of at least eight New Bilibid Prison (NBP) inmates who supposedly succumbed to COVID-19.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Deputy Director and concurrent spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin disclosed that the respondent-police officers are from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and assigned to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
“Mayroong natuklasan ‘yung ating Death Investigation Division agents na mukhang mayroong sistema o mayroong pamamaraan sila paanong magkaroon nga ng COVID o kaya ay palabasin na namatay ito sa COVID. May criminal intent.“
” Kahina-hinala dahil ‘yung iba walang…hindi nagmanifest ng sintomas. Sinasabi nilang nag-positive. At noong napatay na, noong swinab-test, ito ay nag-negative,” Lavin told GMA news
Following the death of high-profile inmate Jaybee Niño Sebastian and seven other prominent inmates inside the NBP, the NBI was formally tasked to launch an investigation.
In DOJ Order No. 179, the NBI thru Officer-In-Charge Eric Distor, was directed to launch a probe and file charges against anyone if necessary.
Sebastian reportedly died while undergoing treatment at the NBP hospital due to acute myocardial infarction as a complication of COVID-19.
Sebastian hogged the headlines when he testified before a House committee investigating the alleged involvement of detained Sen. Leila de Lima in illegal drugs trade in 2016.
When sought for comment, BuCor has refused to give a comment especially on inmates’ identities citing the Data Privacy Act.
From May to July 2020, at least eight inmates from Bilibid’s Maximum Security Compound and Building 14 died of COVID-19 including Sebastian.
