Faeldon ordered to attend Senate hearing amid GCTA issue

Nicanor Faeldon —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Nicanor Faeldon has been ordered to attend the hearing on Monday amid several issues surrounding the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law. 

In the subpoena dated August 31, signed by justice and human rights committee chair Richard Gordon and Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Faeldon was ordered to attend the hearing on Monday, September 2, at 10:00 a.m. 

“By authority of Section 17, Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation of the Senate, Republic of the Philippines, you are hereby commanded and required to appear before the Committee on Justice and Human Rights of the Senate, then and there to testify under oath on what you know relative to the subject matter under inquiry by the said Committee,” the subpoena reads. 

The hearing comes after news of convicted rapist and murderer Antonio Sanchez’ possible release due to his “good conduct” under the GCTA law.

The GCTA provides additional time to be deducted from an inmate’s prison sentence as a reward for his or her good behavior.

Sanchez also reportedly had a release order dated August 20, which was allegedly signed by Faeldon. 

But Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that no release order was issued for Sanchez. 

“I have been informed that BuCor Chief [Nicanor] Faeldon denies having signed a release order for Sanchez,” Guevarra said.

In a press conference, the BuCor said a total of 1,914 heinous crime convicts were freed because of the GCTA since 2013. 

Among these number are the following: 797 are convicted of murder; 758 of rape; 274 of robbery with violence; 48 of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act; 29 of parricide; 5 for kidnapping with illegal detention and 3 for destructive arson. /je