Bong Go to DOJ chief: Relieve BuCor officials handling GCTA
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Christopher “Bong” Go recommended Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra to relieve Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officials handling the processing of the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law for inmates.
“I am recommending to Secretary Guevarra to relieve all BuCor officials who are handling the process of GCTA,” Go said Monday during the Senate hearing on the said law.
“Ayaw ko po mangbintang ng walang ebidensya. I want to give the authorities a chance to thoroughly conduct an intensive investigation to get to the bottom of this,” he added.
Go said GCTA’s lengthy process could be used by officials to extort money from prisoners who want to be released earlier.
“The GCTA is being used to extort money from an assuming prisoners with the promise that they will be released through the computation of the GCTA. Sa dami po ng dinadaanan ng proseso ng GCTA, I believe na marami ang sumasakay at ginagamit ito para sa corruption,” Go said.
“Sa dami ng dinadaanan ng GCTA, marami po akong nakausap, maaaring maraming opisyal sa ibaba ang sumakay at nakikinabang po sa kalokohang ito. Katulad kanina ng sinalaysay ni Ms. Yolanda, yung mga nakausap ko kanina, pinapaasa sila,” he added.
A wife of an inmate, Yolanda Camelon, earlier claimed paying P50,000 to BuCor officials to secure the release of her partner.
Camelon identified the officials as Major Mabel Bansil and Staff Sgt. Ramoncito Roque. The former denied accepting any cash, while the latter claimed he was forced to accept the cash but later on sought Camelon to return the money.
Before attending the Senate hearing, Go on Monday morning visited the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City to assess the situation of the people deprived of liberty (PDLs) and listen to their concerns. Go also met with officials to check on alleged anomalies happening in the NBP hospital.
“May nakarating na reports sa akin na may anomalyang nagaganap sa NBP hospital. Narito ako para pakinggan sila, para imbestigahan,” Go said after reports came out that prison officials and personnel sell hospital passes to inmates who allegedly transact their illegal drug trade inside the NBP hospital.
Go has received reports that some inmates were moved into the NBP Hospital by faking their illness and buying the so-called “hospital referral pass” from BuCor employees.
“Nagpapanggap na may sakit para ma-admit sa ospital, pagkatapos doon na nagaganap ang illegal drug trading. Hindi lang pala ang GCTA ang for sale. Pati na rin ang hospital pass, for sale rin pala sa Bilibid. Sa NBI po, and Secretary Guevarra, baka pwede ninyo pong paimbestigahan ito,” Go said. /je/jpv
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