DOJ gets death certificates of BuCor inmates who died of COVID-19

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has received and will turn over to investigators the death certificates of 21 convicted inmates who reportedly died of COVID-19, officials said Wednesday.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Undersecretary Markk Perete confirmed the department has received the death certificates from the Bureau of Corrections.

"These, along with the swab test results and other documents, will be turned over to the NBI which is conducting the investigation into the death of high-profile inmates at the national penitentiary," Perete said in a message to reporters.

He did not release copies of the death certificates, saying the DOJ will leave it to the NBI to decide when and which documents to disclose.

Perete confirmed that Francis Go, Jimmy Yang, Benjamin Marcelo, Zhang Zhu Li, Jimmy Kinsing Hung, Eugene Chua, Ryan Ong, Amin Buratong, and Jaybee Nino Sebastian were among the 21 names of inmates who reportedly died of COVID-19.

"But matters relating to the cause and date of death go into the very heart of the NBI investigation. It would be better for NBI to look into these matters first as part of their investigation, and await their report on the matter," Perete said.

Guevarra had ordered the NBI to look into the reported deaths amid rumors that Sebastian had been released from prison when he was declared dead. The DOJ chief said the investigation is to dispel theories of anomalies surrounding the deaths.

He said the NBI submitted an initial report last Friday and may submit a progress report by the end of the week.

He welcomed Senator Richard Gordon's statement that he would wait for the NBI's findings on the reported deaths before starting a Senate inquiry into the matter.

"The NBI has the necessary expertise to verify the relevant facts," Guevarra said. — RSJ, GMA News