Senate Committees nix Baloyo's transfer from NBP to San Fernando, Pampanga district jail

THE Senate Committees on Accountability of Public Officers & Investigations or Blue Ribbon and on Justice and Human Rights have thumbed down a request to transfer custody of P/Supt Rodney Raymundo Juico Baloyo IV from the New Bilibid Prison to the BJMP-San Fernando City District Jail in San Fernando City, Pampanga.

Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman of both committees, said it had been the committees' collective decision for Baloyo to stay at the NBP for commitment and continued detention instead of being transferred to the San Fernando City district jail.

"He (Baloyo) has committed an offense that has been approved by the committee, almost the whole Senate, which placed him in contempt for being very evasive and changing his answers frequently. He's been trying to get out of Muntinlupa and the committee is not disposed, as far as I know, to release him. If it would be up to the determination of this Congress, that will be where we're headed - he will not be released. At the moment, this is the collective decision," he said.

Baloyo was cited for contempt during a joint investigation of the Committees on Justice and Human Rights and the Blue Ribbon on the anomalous implementation of Republic Act (RA) 10592 or the Good Conduct Time Allowance Law which veered into other anomalous practices inside the NBP and the so-called "Ninja Cops," who allegedly resell or recycle illegal drugs seized in their operations.

Baloyo, who was under investigation for a raid he led in Mexico, Pampanga on November 30, 2019 when former Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde was the provincial director, was very evasive and kept changing his answers during the hearing.

In reply to a letter from the NBP's Reception and Diagnostic Center dated July 13, Gordon pointed out that video conferencing is now allowed for court proceedings, hence, Baloyo could attend via video conferencing.

"Pwede naman gawin ng court na payagan 'yung video conferencing, the lawyers can ask the question thru video conferencing, stenographic notes can be taken. Besides, anong sasabihin ni Baloyo, kung sa amin ayaw sumagot e lalo sa court. The main basis is he is under contempt and confined to Muntinlupa. Pag dinala si Baloyo doon, mahihirapan nang ibalik dito yan. To avoid that, I consulted SP, and ang pinag-usapan namin video conferencing, pwede naman," he said.

The NBP sought Gordon's permission and authority in connection with the Joint Order and Commitment Orders issued by Hon. Judge Esperanza S. Paglinawan-Rozano seeking the transfer of Baloyo's custody to the BJMP-San Fernando City District Jail in San Fernando City and to produce him before the court whenever required.