'Convicts using hospital passes to continue Bilibid drug trade'

At least eight high-profile convicts are using hospital passes to continue their illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison, Senator Bong Go said Tuesday.

Go, however, refused to say who these convicts are except that most of them are convicted for illegal drugs.

“Most of these illegal drug transactions take place in medical ward 3, medical annex building 14 and it involves several personalities. About eight of them. Illegal drug trade continues in NBP with the hospital as the new venue for transactions,” he told reporters.

He said the convicts collude with some hospital officials, including doctors.

“Mga inmates ito at kakutsaba nila ang hospital. Oo (doktor), kung wala naman silang sakit tapos iko-confine sila kaya pinapaimbestigahan na natin,” he said.

“Maybe may sakit or naging dahilan lang ang pagsakit-sakitan nila para malagay sila sa maluwag, from maximum dadalhin sila sa ospital, luluwag ang kanilang pagkakakulong, magkakaroon ng access sa telepono,” he added.

He said his source, who is also a high-profile inmate, did not tell him how much money is involved for one to get a hospital pass and he refused to give details who wide was the operation of the convicts using hospital passes.

“Hindi ko po madetalye sa inyo kung ano ang transakyon na ginagawa nila at kontak nila sa labas. Subalit ‘yung kwarto ang ginagamit nila sa transaksyon by calling outside or so, antayin na lang natin,” he said.

Asked if he will present his witness when the Senate resumes its probe on Thursday, Go said he will talk with his source first  but  the doctors will be invited in the hearing.

He said he already gave President Rodrigo Duterte a copy of the report, as well as Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra who earlier asked the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the alleged sale of hospital passes.

Up to P2 million

Senator Panfilo Lacson said he also received reports that convicts pay from P200,000 to P2 million to be confined at the hospital. He said there is also a P30,000 per day board and lodging fee.

Lacson will request Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Blue Ribbon and Justice committees, to summon the NBP doctors.

“Hindi mangyayari ‘yan kung walang magse-certify na doctor. So we need to find out kung ano ang flow ng communication once an inmate, a PDL (person deprived of liberty), would request confinement in the NBP hospital,” he said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III the information on hospital passes for sale also came to his attention.

“I was also informed about that issue and it is being used by persons who are not sick, persons deprived of liberty who were not sick. Doon nagnenegosyo, doon kung minsan ‘yung kung ano ang gusto nilang gawin, kung minsan may minimeet na tao, minsan daw ay doon yung transaksiyon, for whatever transactions they want. Grabe,” he said.

Something fishy

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a former Bureau of Corrections chief, said among those who are always at the NBP hospital are Amin Boratong, who operated the notorious shabu tiangge in Pasig City, and Raymond Dominguez, suspect in the killing of car dealer Venson Evangelista.

“Noon hindi ko alam na mayroong ganun, pero duda ako something fishy was going on dahil nga nagtataka ako na may mga drug lords gaya ni Amin Buratong sa Pasig shabu tiangge at si Dominguez, yung pumatay kay Evangelista, na ultimately naging drug lord na rin palaging naka-confine sa ospital,” Dela Rosa said in a separate interview.

“Pagdating ko dun tinignan ko agad ang mga high profile inmates sa ospital na taga building 14. Sabi ko sino taga-building 14 dito, sabi ko, umuwi ka, balik ka dun sa building 14, I don’t care anong sakit mo. Sabi ko, ikaw, Doktor, anong medical bulletin mo? Kung sabihin mo maysakit ‘yan ikaw, Doktor, pumunta ka sa building 14. ‘Wag dito, dahil ginagamit itong ospital sa transaksyon sa kanilang droga,” he added.

Asked if he has evidence on the drug transactions, Dela Rosa said they received information but were not able to arrest anyone.

“Maraming impormasyon. Wala kaming nahuli dahil hindi naman sila gumawa nung panahon natin pero maraming impormasyon na dun nila ginagawa…Wala(ng ebidensiya) pero kaduda-duda naman talaga bakit ang tagal sa ospital mga tao na yan,” he said. 

He said the convicts show medical bulletin but he believed these can be forged. —JST, GMA News