Bilibid inmates’ testimonies should be taken ‘with a grain of salt’ — Gang Badoy

Social activist Gang Badoy, who used to conduct outreach programs in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), on Friday said the testimonies of the high-profile inmates during the recent House of Representatives’ hearings must not be taken as "gospel truth" but rather “with a grain of salt.”

“They enjoy attention so they are kind of narcissistic and the last thing they need is national TV. ‘Pag nilagay mo sa spotlight, baka may tendency mag talk a little bigger than what they mean,” Badoy, founder of civic organization RockEd Philippines said in an interview with GMA News TV’s “News To Go” program.

Badoy was referring to the NBP inmates who recently testified during the two-day hearing of the House of Representatives committee on justice on the proliferation of illegal drugs in the national penitentiary during the term of Senator Leila De Lima as Justice secretary.

During the House probe, all the presented inmates, including convicted armed robber Herbert Colanggo alleged that De Lima used to received millions of pesos as commission for allowing the drug trade operationis in the NBP.

The inmates said their fellow inmate, Commando gang leader Jaybee Sebastian even coerced then to get involved in the illegal drug trade to pool bigger amount of money for the senatorial bid of De Lima.

“I take it with a grain of salt kasi una, they are convicts. You are shaky on ground automatically because there's a history of crime… Mahirap paniwalaan (ang sinasabi nila). Pwede ba paniwalaan? Yeah sure, pero di ako pupusta,” Badoy said.

Badoy said that aside from their criminal history, inmates have the tendency to exaggerate because they are usually bored.

“Wala ako sa pwesto to say if it is the truth or not. But for me, the way I know inmates, a lot of them are bored. Tayo ngang laya, we tend to exaggerate. Are they exaggerating? I don't know,” she said.

Badoy said RockEd, in cooperation with other religious and civic groups, used to offer alternative learning programs for inmates in the NBP such as creative writing, painting, music, and even car repairs.

Badoy said that based on her experience, inmates usually request for photos with those who are visiting them and those conducting outreach programs.

Thus, Badoy, said she cannot tell for sure, if there was something irregular with the photo of De Lima with Sebastian shown during the House probe.

“There is a picture that exists of Sec De Lima and Jaybee. Ganun pag may bumibisitang tao sa loob, magpapapicture. With one picture you can create a story,” Badoy said.

The inmates during their testimony in the House probe, said Sebastian was the pet inmate of De Lima, enjoying protection and special treatment such as lavish quarter or “kubol” and unlimited visitors.

The witnesses claimed that De Lima also ordered the transfer of 19 high-profile inmates dubbed as the “Bilibid 19” from the NBP maximum security compound to the National Bureau of Investigation detention facility in Manila in December 2014 so that Sebastian can monopolize the drug trade in the NBP.

De Lima had vehemently denied the allegations, saying that these inmates were either forced to testify or have an “axe to grind” against her for ordering their transfer. — VVP, GMA News