They should know the law

The resource persons are lying. This is what Sen. Gordon lamented after the latest hearing on the BuCor mess, particularly the sale of early freedom under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) Law. BuCor officials seem to be hiding something because their calls or conversation records have been deleted from their phones. Gordon was pointing out the phones of Corrections Officer Veronica Buño and Corrections Senior Inspector Mabel Bansil. Both revealed the records of calls and conversation on their respective phones have been deleted by “habit”. Really. By habit? Who does that but someone with something to hide?

It’s hard to believe that they would just erase their phone records. I am sure many cellphone owners would not erase records of phone calls or phone conversations unless they have something to hide, for example, a phone number of a female “friend” on a married man’s phone. What’s even more unbelievable us that they both erased their respective records just in time for the Senate hearing. Perhaps a subpoena for the phone records is in order. The Senate wouldn’t want to do anything illegal, I’m sure.

Former BuCor director general and current senator Ronald dela Rosa is asking why they are to blame for the ongoing controversy on the early release of heinous crime convicts. Dela Rosa insisted they were only implementing the law which was crafted during the last administration. An obvious dig into the administration of Pres. Noynoy Aquino. What else is new from this lawmaker? They simply implemented the IRR, which he claims was ambiguous due to the fact that Section 1 and 3 were not “harmonized”. He even goes as far as saying he is willing to debate the ambiguity of the law.

But according to a former Department of Justice official, Section 1 is clear that it excludes recidivists, habitual delinquents, escapees, and persons charged with heinous crimes from the coverage of the GCTA. Those in the BuCor should know the law, precisely because they would implement it. How many times have we heard that ignorance of the law is not an excuse? If Dela Rosa claims an ambiguity between Section 1 and 3, then all the more reason he should have consulted a legal mind on the matter, before allowing 120 heinous crimes convicts to be freed under the GCTA Law. Dela Rosa and Faeldon should not have acted just because previous BuCor director generals were doing the same thing.

The Office of the Ombudsman has now acted on the matter. Twenty-seven BuCor officials have been suspended for six months without pay because of the issues surrounding the GCTA controversy. They will also be charged with gross misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. Apparently, the Ombudsman thinks these officials are liable for the unlawful early release of heinous crimes convicts. So much for Dela Rosa’s excuse that “they simply implemented the IRR”. Should they be charged as well? Or are they immune to any charge? Faeldon, who in the mind of the president is still an upright man, seems to be.