THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has been ordered to conduct another investigation into the questionable deaths of eight high-profile Bilibid inmates during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

This was after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla admitted that the cases the NBI filed against 22 police officers of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) implicated in the said deaths before the Department of Justice (DOJ) were not “strong” enough to secure a conviction.

“Siyempre tiningnan natin yung mga papeles at parang nung binabasa namin ng staff natin, ng ating mga usecs, parang it would not build a case to convict. It was going to build a case that will acquit.”

“So ito po ay pinapa-case build up ko pa rin sa NBI para malaman kung ano talaga ang nangyari sa loob,” Remulla said.

The inmates died under suspicious circumstances while detained at the NBP (National Bilibid Prison) Maximum Security compound, the control of which was under the members of the NCRPO security and medical teams.

Their deaths have spawned suspicion of “foul play” because they died during pandemic lockdowns from May to June 2020 despite testimonies from other prisoners that they were in good health. Except for one inmate, their remains were said to be hastily cremated.

Following the death of inmate Jaybee Sebastian and other inmates, the NBI was formally tasked to launch an investigation.

In DOJ Order No. 179, the NBI, thru then Officer-In-Charge (OIC) 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.

But Remulla continued: “Kasi meron raw testigo na magpapatunay na hindi raw ito talaga namatay sa Covid.”

AUTHOR PROFILE

Hector Lawas