6 NBP officials face P5-M estafa raps

Criminal and administrative charges were filed against six officials of the National Bilibid Prisons (NBP) before the  Muntinlupa City prosecutor’s office for alleged misuse of more than P5 million.

Multiple cases of estafa were filed against NBP Superintendent Juanito Leopando; Cynthia Ines; Prison Guards 2 Arnold Chua, Romeo Bernal, Gil Llano and Jose Longalong, all bonafide employees of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), for reportedly conspiring and defrauding NBP’s retail stores referred to as IPX (Inmates Post Exchange) of around P5 million for their own personal use.

In a two-page complaint-affidavit filed by the audit committee, which is represented by Inspector Rodolfo Esquita before the city prosecutor’s office, Esquita said he conducted an investigation of the anomaly at the NBP IPX and found probable cause for filing estafa charges against Chua as IPX officer and Ines as IPX purchaser-canvasser.

Ines has also been charged with serious dishonesty and falsification of private documents.

Administrative charges, particularly violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, were also filed against Ines and Leopando, the IPX manager; Chua; Bernal as IPX accountant; Llano as bookkeeper and Longalong as bodega or warehouse-in-charge.

Esquita also noted in his memorandum to former BuCor Director Vicente Vinarao that Chua and Ines, in separate instances, failed to explain the undeposited collections, undeclared remittances, cash taken from deposits without authority, cash advances and bonus coupons allegedly given to inmates during the year 2005, 2006 and 2007.

The audit committee, of which Esquita is a member, was formed to check the financial status of the IPX.

NBP-IPX was created for the benefit of the inmates, who are all under the care and responsibility of the national government. The IPX gives assistance to indigent inmates and handles the expenses of hospitalized detainees.