Bato: Drug lords ‘most likely’ behind BuCor legal exec slay

MANILA, Philippines — Drug lords detained in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) are “most likely” behind the killing of an official of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said on Thursday.

BuCor legal service chief Fredric Santos was gunned down by unidentified gunmen in Brgy. Poblacion, Muntinlupa City at 1:50 p.m. on Wednesday.

READ: BuCor legal service chief shot dead in Muntinlupa City

“Most likely ang may kagagawan na naman niyan  based on my experience, ‘yung mga nagpapatay sa mga tao natin dyan sa BuCor, ‘yan rin ‘yung mga nakakulong na drug lords diyan,” Dela Rosa told reporters in an interview in Camp Crame.

(Most likely, the people behind the killing are drug lords inside the national penitentiary.)

“Kumbaga hindi nasunod ‘yung kanilang kagustuhan. Marami pa rin pera, marami pa rin galamay yan sa labas na puwede ka ipapatay,” he added.

(Their demands were not met. They have money, they have many connections from the outside that could have you killed.)

Dela Rosa, who served as the BuCor’s head before running for a Senate seat, further said that drug lords in the national penitentiary have the means to threaten lawyers and even judges.

“May mga pinatay na abugado dahil nga hindi nila nakukuha ‘yung kagustuhan. They have the money, they can buy your life anytime,” the senator said.

(Lawyers were killed because drug lords did not get what they want. They have the money, they can buy your life anytime.)

Santos was among the BuCor officials who were invited to testify about the purported irregularities in the agency, particularly on the controversial Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law.

He was then suspended due to his role in the release of heinous crime convicts under the said law.

“Naawa ako doon sa aking tao. Nagkaproblema na nga. Suspended na nga. Sira na ‘yung buhay niya. Nasira na ‘yung kanyang career, pinatay pa,” said Dela Rosa, who is also former chief of the Philippine National Police.

(I pity him. He got suspended. His life and his career were ruined and then he was killed.)

Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier said Santos had initially wanted to reveal more information about the issue but backed out.

He said this happened at the time when hearings were being conducted. He added there was “nothing lately” that Santos had wanted to reveal to senators.