(Eagle News)– In a House hearing, convicted kidnapper Froilan “Poy” Trestiza accused a ‘consultant’ of then Justice Secretary now Senator Leila De Lima and former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos of extorting money from him so he would not be transferred to a far prison complex.
Trestiza, ‘bosyo’ (commander) of the Batang City Jail (BCJ) group inside New Bilibid Prison (NBP), said he gave money to Danilo Rico Martinez who identified himself as De Lima’s consultant.
The witness reported he initially gave P10,000-P20,000 to Martinez through various bank accounts, apart from the P30,000-P50,000 the latter demanded whenever he visited the national penitentiary.
He also added he gave money to Martinez two or three times a month for six months.
“Kaya humingi ako ng tulong sa aking kasama sa BCJ para makalikom ng nasabing halaga. Ito’y aking ginawa para hindi sumama ang tingin sa amin ni Martinez at hindi kami pag-initan,” Trestiza said.
According to the witness, it was Martinez who notified him of De Lima’s visits, proving that he was truly close to the former Justice Secretary.
“Dalawang beses, sinabi sa akin ni Martinez na dadating sa NBP si De Lima at dalawang beses ito nangyari. Kaya naniwala ako sa kanya na malapit talaga sa kanya si secretary,” Trestiza recapped.
In November 2011, Trestiza was threatened by Martinez after he and BCJ could no longer come up with the money.
Trestiza recounted Martinez only stopped extorting money from him after the change in BuCor administration.
In November 2012, with the appointment of Ragos as BuCor officer-in-charge, Martinez again threatened Trestiza.
“Pinagbantaan ako ni Martinez. Sabi nya, ‘Ano na ngayon, Poy? Wala na director mo pero ako consultant pa rin ni SJ [Secretary of Justice]. Saan mo ba gusto ipatapon,'” he narrated.
“Wala akong magawa kaya ako ay nakipag-ayos sa kanya. Hiningan niya uli ako ng P10,000 para hindi ako maipatapon. Sumunod na araw, humingi uli ng P10,000, ginawan ko ng paraan,” he added.
Trestiza and other ‘bosyos’ were thrown in the medium security compound after a grenade incident at the NBP.
It was in December 2012 when Trestiza was informed that he could be transferred back to the maximum security compound in exchange of P200,000.
“Sabi raw ni Ablen [NBI agent Jovencio Ablen Jr.] sa akin ay pinagbibigay raw ako ni Ragos ng P200,000 kung gusto ko raw malipat ako sa maximum security compound. Ayon kay Ablen, sinabi ni Ragos na ang magdedesisyon ng aking paglipat ay si De Lima,” recapped Trestiza.
“Sabi rin ni Ablen, ayon kay Ragos, susunduin ako mula medium security at ihahatid sa maximum security compound bilang patunay na natanggap na niya ang pera. Noong December 22, 2012, nangyari ang pagsundo kaya siguradong natanggap na ni Ragos ang perang hiningi niya,” he added.
Trestiza said in January 2013, Ragos started asking P100,000 from him every Friday, but he was only able to give that amount for two weeks.
“Noong third week, hindi na ako nakapagbayad kasi ang mga miyembro ng pangkat ko ay hinihingan na rin niya,” he said.
Because of that, Trestiza said he was transferred along with his brother Mark Anthony Trestiza and fellow inmate Russel Morillo to a prison complex in Zamboanga.
Trestiza was among the witnesses who testified during the second day of the Committee on Justice’s probe on the alleged proliferation of illegal drugs inside the NBP where De Lima was alleged to be involved.