Bilibid inmates Jaybee Sebastian, Peter Co, Vicente Sy to testify in House probe

Convicts Jaybee Sebastian, Peter Co, and Vicente Sy, all earlier wounded from a stabbing incident inside the New Bilibid Prison, are set to testify during the House inquiry into the proliferation of drugs inside the national penitentiary.

In a news conference before the resumption of the House probe on Monday, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the three Bilibid inmates, who were wounded in the September 29 incident, have all agreed to testify in the investigation.

"Siguro nung nakikita niya [Sebastian] na lahat ng kasamahan niya sa loob ay nagsasabi ng totoo, baka iyon ang nakapag-akit sa kanya para magbigay ng statement," said Aguirre.

As for Co, the Justice secretary said the inmate's lawyer had apparently long signified his client's intention to tesify. "Ito namang si Peter Co, itong lawyer niya, July pa sumusulat na sa aking office at nag-o-offer na sasabihin niya ang totoo," said Aguirre.

"Pero up to now, hindi ko alam bakit hindi ko natanggap ang sulat na iyon," he added.

Aguirre added: "Kay Peter Co, since hindi kami kumuha ng affidavit doon, baka wala kami mai-offer na immunity doon. Hindi ko pa alam sasabihin niya. Depende sa sasabihin nya [kung bibigyan din sya immunity]."

Apart from Sebastian, Co, and Sy, also set to testify are National Bureau of Investigation Director Dante Gierran, former Bureau of Corrections head Rafael Ragos, Rommel Falcasantos, Bilibid inmate German Agojo, and Bilibid inmate Herbert Colanggo's "talent manager," Reynante Diaz. —KG, GMA News