MANILA, Philippines – Senator Panfilo Lacson on Friday said several individuals “from the inside” are volunteering to reveal everything they know about corrupt practices at the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) amid the continuing Senate investigation on the issue.
“Marami na ring nag-a-attempt na mismong taga-loob na magsalita. Iniisip lang nila kung paano. May nagre-request ng executive session. Di rin natin alam ano ang motibo nila so inaalam natin yan (There are insiders who are willing to talk but don’t know the proper forum. Others have been requesting for an executive session. I do not know their motives, and that is what we’re trying to find out),” Lacson said in an interview on GMA’s Unang Hirit.
“Pero may nagvo-volunteer, may nagpapahayag na gusto nila through mga conduits, mga common kakilala namin. In fact nagpaparating sila ng salita, gusto nila magsalita, tell-all ika nga. Yan ang hinihintay namin,” he added.
The Senate Justice Committee’s investigation stemmed from the aborted release of rape and murder convict former and former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez through the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law.
But Thursday’s hearing unraveled of several alleged money-making schemes inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), which is under the care of BuCor.
READ: Bilibid flesh trade, 24-hour gambling bared
Among these rackets include prostitution, 24-hour gambling operations, smuggling of contrabands like cellphones, all for a fee.
This was revealed by former BuCor officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent Jovencio Ablen Jr. during the hearing.
Ragos and Ablen were among those who earlier testified against Senator Leila de Lima and claimed that they delivered money from drug inmates to the lady senator through her then- driver, Ronnie Dayan.
“Kasi sa ngayon, medyo nasa mababang level, except ‘yong tinestify nina Dir. Ragos at Jovencio Ablen, na talagang maliwanag all the way to the top,” Lacson said.
“Pero sa ngayon sa kasalukuyan, hindi tagos hanggang taas kundi doon lang sa baba. Ang mga hospital, sa mga special request. Gusto namin makuha talaga ang kumpletong larawan,” he added. /gsg