Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday denied that he issued a memorandum ordering the return to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City of 12 high-profile inmates currently detained at a maximum security facility in Occidental Mindoro.
Remulla ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to find out who is behind the fake memorandum circular as he advised Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. to be careful against suspicious directives.
“I believe that certain government employees are in connivance in the issuance of that memorandum circular,” he said in a media briefing.
Remulla expressed suspicion that employees from the DOJ and BuCor could be involved.
“I have talked to Director General Catapang to be careful about all communications,” the Justice Secretary said.
“Validate when there is doubt, especially when there were no talks on the issue and suddenly an order appears,” Remulla said, in his instruction to Catapang.
Remulla issued the statement after learning about the “fake” Memorandum Circular No. 003 addressed to Catapang dated September 8 that was emailed to various officials and offices of the DOJ.
The fake memorandum circular—which also bore the signature of Remulla—instructed Catapang to “transfer” back to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Muntinlupa the custody of the 12 high-profile inmates, namely, Noel G. Martinez, Jerry R. Pepino, Herbert R. Colangco, Tomas B. Donina, Jaime V. Patio, Rodolfo T. Magleo, Engelberton A. Durano, German L. Agojo, Hans Anton Tan, Joel D. Capones, Peter Co and Nonilo A. Arile.
The said individuals are currently detained at the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro.
Remulla said the fake circular noted that the 12 inmates are under the Witness Protection Program and have testified against detained former senator Leila M. de Lima in the charges she is facing before the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court over her involvement in illegal drugs.
“If these inmates feel they would be benefited by the circular then they must have a hand in the preparation of the fake document. They just want to return to Muntinlupa,” he added.
According to Remulla, the prison sentence of the 12 PDLs could get extended if they continue to commit such crimes.
The Justice Secretary warned that government employees found involved could be charged with falsification of public documents and could be sentenced to imprisonment. They could also be removed from the service and their benefits forfeited.
“It is no joke to make such fake documents. There is a correspondingpunishment for that,” he said.