Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla yesterday denied issuing a memorandum circular ordering the return to the New Bilibid Prison or NBP in Muntinlupa City of 12 high-profile persons deprived of liberty who are detained at the maximum security facility of the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm SPPF in Occidental Mindoro.

Remulla ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to find out who was behind the fake memorandum. He advised Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. to be careful about suspicious directives purportedly coming from him.

Remulla said he believed certain government employees were in connivance in issuing the memorandum circular.

"I have instructed the NBI to find out who are behind this," he said, adding he suspected employees from the DOJ and BuCor could be involved.
Remulla also told Catapang, "When there is doubt, validate, especially when there were no talks on the issue and suddenly an order appears."

He acted immediately after learning the fake Memorandum Circular No. 003 addressed to Catapang dated 8 September was emailed to various officials and offices of the DoJ.

The fake memorandum, which bore the signature of Remulla, instructed Catapang to "transfer back to 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 circular indicated they were being held at the Pasugui Sub-Prison in SPPF.

The fake circular noted that the 12 inmates are under the Witness Protection Program and had testified against detained former senator Leila M. de Lima in the charges she faces before the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court.