Inmates of the maximum-security National Bilibid Prison had a unique experience via a different kind of enjoyment while they were confined at the New Bilibid Prison as the new leadership allowed a Christmas party for the first time in memory amid the big controversies that hounded the national penitentiary lately.

In an interview, Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., former Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff, celebrated Christmas with thousands of inmates last 15 December.

Holding a party aims to lighten the mood of the internees who were extremely stressed right after broadcaster Percy Lapid was killed in Las Piñas City and the supposed middleman while inside the confines of the 200-hectare prison facility.

Shortly after Lapid's killer Joel Escorial faced the media, accompanied by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos on 16 October, Cristito Villamor Palaña, the alleged contractor, was killed inside his cell.

The National Bureau of Investigation though ruled out foul play in Palaña's death.

NBI, in its initial report submitted to the Department of Justice, said there were "no apparent signs of external physical injury" found on Jun Globa Villamor's body during an autopsy.

The NBI said the report ls of the death of Villamor was consistent with the evidence, such as the time of death.

The family of Lapid, through his younger brother Roy Mabasa, who is also a journalist, nonetheless called on "whoever can help us to have an independent autopsy on Villamor's remains" as independent autopsy "will help put our mind at ease."

The Lapid family fell into deep anguish after learning that Villamor died hours after Escorial named him as the alleged middleman in the contract to kill the broadcaster.

"My family and I were very upset when we heard that middleman number one had died. That was Villamor at the Bureau of Corrections. Of course, we felt bad. We were sad because that was important to us because of what we knew, he was the one who instructed, told the gunman to kill Percy Lapid," Mabasa said in Filipino.

The second autopsy conducted by a forensic pathologist on Villamor's body opened the possibility of foul play.

Dr. Raquel Fortun's opinion contained in a six-page autopsy report said there was information provided that Villamor, who died inside the New Bilibid Prison, expressed fear for his life shortly before his death. Moreover, he died from suffocation by means of a plastic bag put over his head.

"The autopsy findings showed no gross morphologic cause of death, and this is consistent with the reported asphyxia," Fortun said.

Likewise, a toxicology examination also revealed methamphetamine in Villamor's urine, indicating that illegal drugs continue to flow into the national penitentiary.

"Based on available information regarding the circumstances surrounding the death, the manner is homicide," Fortun added in her report.

Strange occurrences

Because of the findings, several inmates suspected to be involved in the killing of Villamor gave their testimonies that led to the collating of evidence and the eventual filing of double murder charges against suspended Bucor chief Gerald Bantag and his right-hand man Ricardo Zulueta.

The said circumstances loomed in the highly populated prison facility in Muntinlupa City and everyday seemed a very long day both for the inmates and the Bucor personnel as there many discoveries inside when Bantag was no longer around.

Catapang also disclosed the entry of contrabands and the syndicate-like work that has been laid out inside the NBP making gang commanders very powerful as they earn millions after they were permitted to run their businesses.

A big quarrying activity was also discovered along with horses and other kinds of animals which are not permitted in the area.

Normalcy

All of these was handled carefully by Catapang to put to normalcy the situation in the area where people should be reformed but it turned out they were converted into gangster with a lot of money in their pockets.

Catapang, for a change, set the stage for the party of the inmates which was held on 15 December with some bands to brighten up the situation in the NBP.

"Actually, we have a Christmas party last 15 December, sort of Pamaskong Handog for them," he said.

The BuCor OIC said they brought inside bands to entertain the inmates. "With the band playing music, we sang, and they sang with their loved ones," he added.

He said they allowed the relatives or wives and their families to be there to accompany their jailed loved ones while the band played the music they wanted to hear.

"We did not have it publicized but the detainees enjoyed being with their family and friends," Catapang said.

He said inmates were particularly elated about the band who played in front of them.

"They really enjoyed the party prepared for them with their family, while the BuCor personnel are on the sideline also watching and enjoying the activity," according to Catapang.

On New Year's Day, the family of the inmates will also be allowed to visit and hopefully many of them will be freed.

Catapang's effort to cheer up those in the facility may just be the final rites prior to the transfer of the facility as a final solution to the controversies hounding it.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla wanted the prison closed as he pushed for the regionalization of the penitentiary system.

Remulla said he wanted the NBP to be a government center when asked about his plan with the sprawling property at the heart of the bustling Muntinlupa City.

"I want this to be a government center because it's very difficult to find land for the use of the government. The government cannot afford to buy land for its own offices. I do not believe in privatizing the land. BGC did not benefit the government, it is all of 400 hectares. The proceeds from it should have been used for modernization but it did not achieve that aim," Remulla said.