Prison syndicate blamed for Minister’s death

Press, 8 October 1987, Page 7

Prison syndicate blamed for Minister’s death

NZPA-Reuter Manila

A prison syndicate which bribed guards to allow “out-of-jail-contracts” assassinated a senior member of President Corazon Aquino’s Cabinet, senior police sources said on Tuesday. They said a member of the murder syndicate, who was allowed out of prison on a special pass in August, had shot and killed the Local Government Secretary, Jaime Ferrer.

“Huge amounts of money are involved. This is the big time,” a police official, who asked not to be identified, said. “The prisoners have a perfect

The Justice Secretary, Sidfrey Ordonez, on Monday dismissed two guards and ordered an investigation into alleged involvement of officials at the National Penitentiary after Manila newspapers exposed the activities of the syndicate. The newspapers on Tuesday printed photographs of a maximumsecurity prisoner who, police said, was almost certainly responsible for Mr Ferrer’s killing on August 2. The man had been given a special pass by prison officials. Mr Ferrer, a vociferous anti-communist, was shot dead outside his home as he returned from church. The death was that

time blamed on the communist New People’s Army. Police sources said they were trying to collect sufficient evidence to bring formal charges.

Last year, police killed six prisoners who robbed strollers in a Manila park after they were allowed to leave prison for several hours.

A prisoner, who asked not to be identified, said in a letter to a Manila newspaper that members of the syndicate enjoy special privileges in prison such as television sets, radio communications and expensive food and liquor.