Pangilinan questions basis for releasing heinous crime convicts

Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines – “What are the basis in law for deciding who are qualified for release? How were the cases of the inmates evaluated? Who makes such decisions?”

Opposition Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan asked this on Friday after the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) disclosed that almost 2,000 detainees convicted of heinous crimes were released due to the good conduct time allowance.

Pangilinan said inmates who were released may return to jail but noted that the government must find out who was responsible for the detainees’ release.

“Pero hindi natin pwedeng palagpasin ang paniningil sa mga taong responsable kung bakit na-isama sa mga napakawalan ang may mga nahatulang gumawa ng heinous crimes,” he said in a statement.

Pangilinan was reacting to Malacañang’s statement that the freed prisoners convicted of heinous crimes must get back to jail.

What we want are truth, accountability, and justice, which should be the linchpin of our criminal justice system.

READ: Palace: Freed heinous crime convicts under GCTA rule must return to jail

Pangilinan said if this justice system would continue “we can never have a reformative prison system and restorative justice will remain elusive, including to those who are in jail but who are innocent and to wrongdoers who remain scot-free.”

Pangilinan said if authorities would free unqualified inmates, criminals would not hesitate to continue doing drug trafficking and other crimes.

“Kung pinapalaya ang hindi karapat-dapat, lalong dadami ang walang takot na gagawa ng mga krimen gaya ng drug trafficking, rape, at murder. Dapat pigilan ito at panagutin ang mga nagpabaya,” he said.