The investigation continues
Nicanor Faeldon has indeed been fired as the general director of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) over the raging controversy surrounding the implementation of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) Law and the near release of former Calauan, Laguna, mayor Antonio Sanchez convicted for the heinous crime of rape and murder of UP Los Baños student Eileen Sarmenta in 1993.
But this does not mean that the investigation into the early release of more than 1,900 persons convicted of heinous crimes should end. The aborted release of Sanchez was made possible by public outrage. But 1,914 inmates convicted of various heinous crimes have been granted early releases under GCTA since 2013. So was the GCTA misinterpreted or does an early freedom have a price?
According to Senator Lacson, inclusion in the GCTA and subsequent early release costs anywhere between P50,000 to one and a half million pesos. This is what the preliminary investigation has come up with. Eight convicts have allegedly paid P100,000 for their release under the GCTA. A resource person told the Senate last Thursday that she paid P50,000 for her common-law husband's release under GCTA.
She even goes as far as naming the recipient who denied the allegation. According to Senator Gordon, a witness has withdrawn because of “cold feet.” Shouldn't the Senate issue subpoenas to these people? If there are witnesses who are withdrawing doesn't that mean the suspicion is valid?
DILG Secretary Año himself said that Section 1 of RA 10592 is very clear about excluding those convicted of heinous crimes from being eligible for GCTA. If that provision is so clear, why is the previous administration being blamed for the current mess, particularly the crafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations? If Section 1 is very clear, what more is there to clarify?
The BuCor implements the GCTA, so they should be the ones questioned, investigated, or prosecuted if money does change hands in exchange for an early release. They should be first in understanding the IRR because they implement it, and not blame those who crafted it several years ago.
The names of those who benefitted from the GCTA must likewise be released along with the corresponding director generals such as Faeldon, Senator Dela Rosa, Benjamin delos Santos, and others since 2013. It would be interesting to see just how many heinous crime convicts were released under a particular director general.
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