Did inmate singer Herbert Colangco have a concert outside Bilibid without authorization?

Herbert "Ampang" Colangco, a convicted bank robbery gang leader who appeared to have turned his kubol inside the New Bilibid Prison into a recording studio, held a concert in a hotel in Pasay City last September despite having no authorization.

 

According to a report by GMA News, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima's second inspection at some quarters of the New Bilibid Prison on Friday turned up, among other items, a concert poster of Colongaco at the prison gym.

 

Based on the poster, Colangco had a concert at a hotel in Pasay City last September, but authorities were neither informed nor did they approve Colangco's request to leave the NBP for the concert.
 

 

During De Lima's first inspection at the maximum security compound, authorities found huge speakers, a flat screen TV, a keyboard and a drum set — all prohibited — inside Colangco's kubol.

 

Colangco managed to shoot at least one music video inside his kubol.

 

His "Kinabukasan" album under Ivory Music got gold and platinum status earlier this year, according to a report on PEP.ph.

 

The awards were certified and authenticated by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry, Inc. (PARI, inc.) based on the total units sold.

 

According to PARI, an album needs to sell 15,000 copies to be considered platinum. — Amanda Fernandez/JST, GMA News