Jaybee Sebastian, 2 others to remain in same NBP building

High-profile convicts Jaybee Sebastian, Peter Co and Vicente Sy will remain at Building 14 of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) where they were attacked last Wednesday, GMA News' Chino Gaston reported on "24 Oras" on Friday.

Rolando Asuncion, officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), said Building 14 is the safest place for the three, who were stabbed in the attack and are currently confined in a hospital.

"Tingin ko kasi yung pa rin, Building 14, ang pinaka-safe sa kanila," Asuncion said. "Pero kailangang i-lock talaga sila. Aalamin ko 'yung gang affiliation saka yung dynamics dun para sa ganun, mai-schedule namin yung paglabas nila."

The attack left another inmate, Tony Co, dead.

Sebastian allegedly monopolized the illegal drug trade inside the national penitentiary while Senator Leila De Lima was justice secretary.

De Lima, who claimed Sebastian was a government asset, allegedly got millions of pesos in drug money to fund her senatorial campaign early this year in exchange for tolerating illegal operations inside the NBP. She has repeatedly denied the allegation.

Building 14 not safe

Sebastian's lawyer, Eduardo Arriba, meanwhile insisted that his client must be transferred, noting that his attackers are still at the same building.

"Hindi niya (Asuncion) puwedeng sabihing 'yun yung pinaka-safe dahil nangyari na nung Wednesay, despite or notwithstanding the takeover and presence of the so-called elite personnel of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force," Arriba said.

"In their presence, within their sight, nangyari itong frustrated murder na 'to," he added.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Friday said Sebastian could still be transferred to another facility if it could be proven that there are threats to his life.

Sebastian, Co, and Sy gave testimonies along with former Chief Inspector Clarence Dongail on the riot that lead to the death of Co, a convicted Chinese drug lord.

Only Raymund Dominguez, a convicted carnapper, tested positive for drug use among the 34 inmates at Building 14. It is not yet known whether Sebastian, Co, and Sy underwent the same tests. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News