Aguirre ready to lose DOJ post over transfer of ‘Bilibid 19’ detention

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II is determined to return some members of the so-called "Bilibid 19" to the maximum security compound even if it means losing his job as justice secretary, for as long as a resurgence of the illegal drug trade inside the national penitentiary can be prevented.

Aguirre led an early morning raid this Thursday, dubbed Oplan Galugad, of the New Bilibid Prison's (NBP) medium and maximum security compounds, as well as Building 14, where high-profile inmates are being kept, to effect the return of some inmates to where they rightfully belong.

The Justice secretary ordered the raid after reports reached him that "hardcore" inmates at Building 14 and the maximum security compound were being allowed to move to the medium security compound — where security is relatively not as tight — to conduct drug transactions using mobile phones.

On Monday, Aguirre issued the order to bring these high-profile inmates, including some of the Bilibid 19 who exposed the illegal drug trade inside the NBP and even implicated Senator Leila de Lima, back to the maximum security compound and Building 14.

Eight of the Bilibid 19, in response, appealed to the the DOJ chief not to implement his order, citing security risks if they are returned to the maximum security compound. They even reportedly threatened to retract their testimonies against De Lima if their transfer pushes through, but their lawyer Francis Acejas III had denied this.

"Hindi ko na po iniisip sa akin, sa aking desisyon kung sa ginawa ko pong ito ay matatanggal o maaalis ako sa aking posisyon bilang secretary of Justice. So be it," Aguirre said in a radio dzBB interview Thursday.

"Ano man ang mangyari sa akin tatangapin ko po ng maluwag sa loob ko iyon," he added.

Aguirre said he would rather lose his job than pave the way for the resurgence of the illegal drug trade inside the national penitentiary.

"Sa akin malinaw na malinaw na ang dapat kong gawin para matigil itong iligal na transaksyon sa Bilibid ay i-transfer sila gaya nang dati dahil halos nasawata na natin iyon," he said.

'Disinformation/misinformation campaign'

Later in the day, Aguirre said talks about the possible recantation of NBP inmates of their testimonies against De Lima may have been part of a "disinformation or misinformation" campaign from the camp of the senator's sympathizers.

"Mayroon akong nalaman, yang news na yun parang disinformation o misinformation para masira lamang ang kanilang pag-testify; parang nanggaling ang move na yan dun sa kabilang kampo,” Aguirre told reporters.

Without mentioning Acejas' name, Aguirre said the lawyer did not represent any of the inmates who expressed fears for their safety including Vicente Sy, Jojo Baligad and Hans Tan.

"Hindi naman pala abugado kahit sino ng mga drug lords. May nagsabi sa
akin na hindi siya abugado ng kahit sinuman doon sa mga high profile," Aguirre said.

He declined to give weight to claims of the high profile inmates that their lives would be in danger if the transfer pushes through.

"Actually yung mga ganyan palagay ko hindi totoo yan eh. Disinformation lamang yan ng kabilang grupo. Walang ganyan eh. Pupwede naman may danger safety nila, but we are going to take care of that. Hindi sila manganganib," Aguirre said.

Aguirre also said he was wondering why his order for the immediate transfer of detention has not been fully implemented by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

"Yung ilang inatasan ko na ilipat [ang inmates] sa maximum at Building 14 ay napatunayan ko na hindi sinusunod ang aking DO [Department Order 496] sapagkat yung mga high profile drug lords doon pa rin sa medium," he said.

"Titingnan natin kung may defiance [of the DO]. We will ask them to explain [BuCor people]."

Earlier, a fresh battalion-sized contingent was deployed to the medium-security compound by the Philippine National Police Special Action Force to replace the hundreds of police commandos manning it, amid reports of the resurgence of the illegal drug trade in the facility.

"May report na iyong [Special Action Force] troopers nabahiran na rin kaya sinamantala ko ang pagbabago ng contingent upang maisagawa itong continuation ng digma sa droga," he said in the dzBB interview. — MDM/KVD/RSJ, GMA News