By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios
ACT-CIS Partylist Representative Niña Taduran demands for full transparency on the cases involving suspected and confirmed COVID-19-related deaths of inmates at the New Bilibid Prisons.
The House Asst. Majority Leader says that a congressional inquiry should be called to investigate the deaths and if protocols were followed in relation to this.
Taduran says the Data Privacy Act should not be used as an excuse for not revealing relevant details of the 29 inmates who have been cremated at the Panteon de Dasmariñas in Cavite.
Speaking to THEPHILBIZNEWS, Congresswoman Taduran said, “All avenues must be explored in the interest of transparency. It is alarming that high-profile inmates have been dying allegedly due to COVID-19 since May and we have been kept in the dark until a newspaper reported Jaybee Sebastian’s death and cremation.”
“It is a matter of national interest that’s why we are calling for transparency. The concerned agencies must present fool-proof evidence regarding the death of a high profile inmate and others,” Taduran pointed out.
“This is not about personalities, this is about principle, and for the sake of the bereaved family of the inmates, we need to know everything and how it happened that fast,” Taduran noted.
“Is it not a basic duty of the Bureau of Correction Chief to inform the family on the onset when Jaybee Sebastian got COVID so that necessary medical intervention can be done right away?,” the ACT-CIS Partylist lawmaker pointed out.
“Then they will invoke the Data Privacy on this issue? This is preposterous and the use of the Data Privacy is totally out of line, What also bothers me is why the wife of Jaybee Sebastian was surprised at what happened? Hence, there is a need to step in and get the bottom of it. The public deserves to know the truth and public service is a public trust,” Taduran underscored being dubbed as Public Service Lady in the country.
“Needless to say, in this special case, witnesses should be called to be present at the cremation including a relative of the victim. There should be a protocol to prove the death of an inmate is real,” the House Assistant Majority Leader added.
“And the public uproar that is happening now is not even the fault of the people. You cannot blame them because these are drug inmates and their sudden death which is very mysterious, to say the least, dying at the same time would certainly cast doubt to any people who are thinking. This is too much of a coincidence,” Taduran concluded.
The solon also asked for an efficient process of rechecking information with regard to the Covid-19 related deaths in New Bilibid Prison.