Inmate wants to go back to Bilibid

MANILA, Philippines - One of 20 inmates transferred from the New Bilibid Prison to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following last week’s raid on the NBP has sought relief from the Court of Appeals (CA).

In a 21-page writ of amparo petition filed yesterday, the sister of kidnap convict Noel Martinez questioned the legality of her brother’s transfer, which she said was “baseless and unlawful.”

Marilou Martinez Raguro asked the CA to order the Department of Justice (DOJ) to immediately return her brother to the national penitentiary. 

Through lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, Raguro said the DOJ has no authority to order the transfer of inmates from the NBP to the NBI, especially since her brother has a pending petition before the CA challenging his conviction by the trial court.

Raguro also argued that Martinez’s visitorial rights, which were afforded by the Bureau of Corrections for all its inmates, have been eliminated.

She also asked the CA to issue a temporary protection order (TPO) enjoining the DOJ to allow families and lawyers of Martinez to visit him in the NBI. 

Raguro alleged that the DOJ violated her brother’s constitutional rights  by refusing to allow visitors to see him at the NBI. She said her brother has the right to counsel and not to be held incommunicado.

Martinez’s camp also said he is not part of the illegal drug trade in the NBP.

Aside from Martinez, the other inmates removed from the NBP were Eugene Chua, Chua Sam Li, Vincent Sy, George Sy, Joel Capones, Herbert Colangco, Peter Co, Amin Imam Boratong, Clarence Dongail, Tom Chua, Rommel Capoines, Jojo Baligad, Willy Chua, Michael Ong, Jacky King Sy, Willy Sy and Herman Agojo. 

Topacio said he is set to file today similar petitions in the CA for three other inmates: Agojo, Ong and Sy.