Another high-profile Bilibid inmate contracts COVID-19

Published Jul 25, 2020 6:35:26 PM

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 25) — Another high-profile inmate at the New Bilibid Prison has tested positive for the coronavirus disease, the Bureau of Corrections said Saturday amid controversies surrounding the deaths of several inmates.

BuCor Spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag confirmed to CNN Philippines that the detainee, identified as a convicted car thief, contracted the viral disease.

The bureau, however denied reports that the prisoner had died, with Director General Gerald Bantag calling it “fake news.”

According to a reliable source, at least five high-profile inmates are currently quarantined at Site Harry, the isolation facility in Bilibid located in Muntinlupa City. They are down to five following the death of Jaybee Sebastian, a convict who confessed to running the Bilibid drug trade and previously implicated former Justice Secretary and now Senator Leila de Lima.

De Lima, who is detained in Camp Crame, denies the drug charges and maintains that Sebastian was forced to testify against her.

Sebastian died on July 18 due to complications from COVID-19, according to his death certificate. However, the families of other inmates believe he was killed, saying he was asymptomatic and doing well.

The National Bureau of Investigation is looking into the deaths of nine high-profile inmates, including Sebastian, as some officials fear the deaths could have been faked to cover their escape, or they could have died of other reasons.

A total of 476 inmates died in BuCor facilities this year, with 21 of them succumbing to coronavirus-related complications. But this is nothing out of the ordinary, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said, adding that it may be slightly higher due to the COVID-19 crisis but well within the daily average of two to three inmates dying behind bars.

A Senate probe, separate from the ongoing investigation, is scheduled for next week.

SOURCE: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/7/25/high-profile-bilibid-inmate-covid-19.html