Bato won’t recommend transfer of 8 high-profile inmates inside Camp Aguinaldo back to Bilibid

Bureau of Corrections director general Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Wednesday said he would not recommend yet the transfer of eight high-profile inmates inside the detention facility in Camp Aguinaldo back to the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City due to security reasons.

On his third day as BuCor chief, Dela Rosa conducted a surprise inspection at the detention cells of eight high-profile inmates including Herbert Colangco, Jaime Patcho, Engelberto Durano, Jerry Pepino, Noel Martinez, German Agojo, Tomas Donina, and Rodolfo Magleo at the Military Police Battalion Custodial Detention Center in Camp Aguinaldo.

The high-profile inmates all testified against Senator Leila de Lima on her alleged drug links during the inquiry of the House of Representatives.

Some of the inmates are willing to be transferred back to the NBP but Dela Rosa said he would not recommend it yet citing security concerns.

"Tinanong ko gusto niyo bang bumalik doon kasi baka masyado na kayong nag-e-enjoy dito? Sabi nila, sir gusto namin bumalik doon dahil unang-una doon sa maximum security compound meron kami doong doktor, may dentist, eh dito wala kaming doktor, dentist na mag-alaga sa amin so gusto nilang bumalik but meron ding ayaw dahil nga takot baka patayin siya don 'pag bumalik siya dahil marami na silang nasagasaan na mga kasama nila," he said.

Further pressed on why he would not recommend the transfer of the inmates, Dela Rosa said: "Wala mang problema, later siguro, may mga occupants sa Building 14 na nasagasaan nila, baka pagsasaksakin ito pagdating doon, magpatayan ito."

"Kaya security, number one consideration, security ng mga taong ito, luge nga tayo talaga, malaki ginagastos nating guwardiya dito sa kokonting tao," he added.

'Satisfied'

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa said he was "quite satisfied" on his inspection as he found no gadgets, contraband, and illegal drugs.

"Ang gusto ko lang malaman is, ganito kasi, iniisip ko masyado kaming maghihigpit doon sa Bilibid, lahat lahat hihigpitan namin, yung Building 14 tsaka yung maximum, tsaka medium, baka mamaya wala na talagang magiging transaksyon sa droga doon, eh baka dito sila ngayon magta-transact dahil baka mamaya isipin nila they have the privilege being [state witnesses]," Dela Rosa said.

"Baka sabihin nila may utang na loob kami sa kanila na puwede silang magtuloy-tuloy sa kanilang transaction so siniguro ko ngayon pinuntahan ko dito and I talked to them, sabi ko kahit na kayo'y mga state witness, puwede kayong magiging dying witness," he added.

WATCH: Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to inspect the detention facility in Camp Aguinaldo where 8 high-profile inmates are detained. | via @marllybondoc pic.twitter.com/9TszpuPpzY

— GMA News (@gmanews) May 9, 2018

There are around 50 to 60 personnel guarding the custodial center which holds the eight high-profile inmates. Of this number, 31 are from the BuCor, 17 are from the Special Action Force while the rest are from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Dela Rosa said this ratio is "disadvantageous" in terms of their resource consumption, adding that he will "evaluate" on whether there is a need to transfer some of the correctional officers assigned to guard the eight high-profile inmates in Camp Aguinaldo to the NBP.

"Sixty people guarding walong tao, baligtad samantalang doon sa BuCor, isang gwardiya, mag-gwagwardiya ng mga more or less 300 katao...Resource consumption mas magastos ito," he said. — RSJ, GMA News