ALL 20 prison guards assigned at the Armed Forces of the Philippines detention facility where eight high-profile inmates are detained have been relieved, Bureau of Corrections Chief Benjamin de los Santos said Friday.
He said the 20 guards were relieved following reports that the inmates in the facility continued to enjoy special treatment as a reward for testifying against Senator Leila de Lima.
De Lima is accused of protecting the drug lords inside the National Bilibid Prison when she was justice secretary, while Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II is accused of pampering the inmates at the AFP detention facility for testifying against her.
The inmates were said to have been provided with mobile phones, television sets and air-conditioning units.
But Aguirre denied giving special privileges to the inmates.
“I have never issued an order either verbal or written that granted special privileges to these inmates,” Aguirre said.
He said the inmates testified against De Lima without any conditions.
De Los Santos said he moved the 20 prison guards to the New Bilibid Prison and that their leader, Prison Guard 3 Marlon Mangubat, would be investigated for possible administrative liability.
He said a clearing operation was conducted by a team at the AFP detention facility to dismantle the air-conditioning units, but the men found no cellphones.
He said there was only one television set installed and it was at the reception area.
