NBI probes BuCor official’s slay

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is now conducting a separate probe into the assassination last week of an official of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), whose office processed documents including the release papers of rape and murder convict Antonio Sanchez, officials said yesterday.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told the Senate Blue Ribbon committee that he has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the case of Ruperto Traya Jr., who was gunned down by an unidentified assailant in Muntinlupa City on Aug. 27.

At the time of his death, the 53-year-old BuCor official was the second highest official at the agency’s records office that processed documents for the release of Sanchez and other high-profile convicts that generated a strong public outcry.

Sanchez’s release was stopped but the three inmates convicted for the 1997 Chiong sisters rape-slay case obtained their freedom.

Guevarra made the disclosure upon questioning by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who asked whether Traya’s killing had something to do with the controversy over the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) Law and allegations of corruption on its implementation.

BuCor chief Nicanor Faeldon said based on the joint investigation of his agency and the police, it was found out that Traya survived an assassination attempt three years ago in Leyte, where he was posted before.

“The investigation that apparently the ambush attempt had something to do with his connivance with a PDL (person deprived of liberty) whom he was texting,” Faeldon told Sotto.

He said the PDL was also killed in Leyte the same day as Traya was gunned down, but he did not identify the inmate.

NBI chief Dante Gierran told the committee that the bureau has started gathering information and is looking at “two to three angles at the moment.”

Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the committee, said he received information that Traya may somehow been involved in drug cases in Albuera, Leyte.