MANILA, Philippines — The “red-tagging” of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa against progressive party-list groups was just a diversion from his supposed hand in the “GCTA for sale” issue, House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said Tuesday.
Dela Rosa earlier urged the revocation of the registration of progressive party-lists with alleged links to the Communist Party of the Philippines during a Senate hearing on the Party-List System Act. He was reportedly referring to Bayan Muna, Gabriela, ACT Teachers, Kabataan, and Anakpawis party-lists – collectively called the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives.
“Mas mabuting harapin na lang at ipaliwanag ni Sen. Bato ang GCTA [good conduct and time allowance] for sale issue at ang naging papel niya sa pagpapalaya ng 120 convicts nung siya pa ang Bucor chief kesa sinusubukan nyang ibaling ang issue para iba ang pag-usapan,” Zarate said in a statement.
The opposition lawmaker said the Makabayan bloc stands by their track record in serving the people and advocating measures to help the poor like pushing for the SSS pension hike and barring the “unwarranted” Meralco and water hike, among others.
Zarate said “trumped-up” disqualification charges had already been filed against their group but were dismissed for having no basis.
Dela Rosa, former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief, had requested to take authority on the release of persons deprived of liberty, according to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra. Malacañang said the neophyte senator would also be probed for the release of heinous crime convicts during his watch as BuCor head.
READ: DOJ chief: ‘Bato’ eyed BuCor authority to release convicts
READ: Palace: Bato also faces probe over freed convicts
The release of heinous crime convicts through the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law and the corruption hounding the system are now being investigated by the Senate. This came after the foiled release of former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez, who was convicted for rape and murders. /kga
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