BuCor invoking data privacy in Bilibid deaths 'prone to abuse' -Drilon

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Monday warned that allowing the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to deflect the demands for transparency on the deaths in the New Bilibid Prison by invoking the Data Privacy Act could spell danger.

"It is dangerous and it is prone to different kinds of abuses. I am afraid it can be used to make prisoners disappear, cover up extra-judicial killings, and even to fake death," Drilon said in a statement.

"I am not saying that this is happening but if we are not transparent, then the people will keep entertaining doubts about the veracity of these alleged deaths involving high-profile inmates," he added.

The former Justice Secretary pointed out that the NBP has been hounded in the past by controversies of high-profile inmates being spotted outside of prisons or being given special treatments.

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has confirmed the death of inmates—including convicted drug lord Jaybee Sebastian—due to COVID-19.

The Department of Justice on Monday ordered an independent probe of the National Bureau of Investigation on the matter.

A Senate investigation has also been sought by Senate President Vicente Sotto III. -NB, GMA News