Seven inmates from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 6 (BJMP-6) were convicted of life imprisonment or maximum detention of 40 years due to illegal drugs.

BJMP6 investigation chief Senior Jail Officer 1 Leo Lacerna identified the seven convicted inmates as Joel Tulio of Mambusao Municipal Jail, Jimmy Alovera of Roxas City Jail, Percy Bolongan of San Jose Jail in Antique, Allan Castillo, Ian dela Cruz, Regie Franco and Manuel Sison, all of Ungka Jail in, Jaro District, Iloilo City.

Apart from the seven, two inmates identified as Rico Agillo of Ungka Jail, and Rodjun Chavez of Barotac Viejo Jail in Iloilo were also sentenced of reclusion perpetual or detention between 20 and 40 years for murder and human trafficking, respectively.

Lacerna said all convicted inmates were part of 50 inmates who were shipped to New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City, Manila only last week to serve their sentences. He said this is the first shipment for this year and another set of convicted inmates will be shipped out before year ends.

Thirteen of the inmates shipped to Manila were from Negros Occidental while the rest were from other provinces in Panay.

Lacerna said most convicted inmates had violated crimes against person, crimes against property, eight and drug-related case, five.

Every year, Lacerna said they are sending more than 100 convicted inmates in Muntinlupa to help decongest their congested jail facilities all over the region. He also said more than 1, 000 convicted inmates were already sent there since their program started in 2004.*