Sotto: Bribery involved in early release of inmates convicted of heinous crimes

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Sotto III on Saturday said it is possible that money changed hands in the early release of inmates convicted of heinous crimes.

“Wala namang iba, pa-paano mo ma-i-alis sa isipan ng tao na nagkasuhulan ‘yan. Mga drug lords at involved ng heinous crimes ang convicts na pinapalaya,” Sotto said in an interview with radio station DWIZ.

[There is no other possible reason. How can you deny that to the public that bribery was involved? Drug lords and other inmates convicted of heinous crimes were given early freedom.]

“Hindi maaaring hindi tama yung iniisip ng kababayan natin. Nagkasuhulan yan, imposibleng hindi [The public is not wrong to speculate that bribery was involved. Money was involved, that is for sure.],” he added.

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) drew flak after some 1,000 inmates were granted early release because of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law or Republic Act No. 10592.

READ: BuCor: 1,914 heinous crimes prisoners given early freedom due to GCTA

With this, Sotto appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to revamp the BuCor administration.

READ: Sotto: Duterte must revamp BuCor

Sotto noted that if the BuCor fails to address the issues hounding their agency, BuCor will have to face the Senate during its budget hearing set on October.

“Pag-usapan natin pagdating ng budget nila. Kapag wala silang ginawang kilos diyan, pagdating ng October dadaan samin budget nila, dun tayo magkakatuusan,” Sotto said when asked what Senate will do if Duterte fails to revamp the BuCor.

[We will talk about their fate when the scheduled budget hearing. If they fail to address the issues hounding their agency, we will talk with them during Senate’s budget hearing on October.]

‘Law was for ailing, aging convicts’

Sotto cited that it was the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago who sponsored the measure on GCTA.

Sotto said late Miriam Defensor Santiago, who sponsored the measure on GCTA, suggested that the GCTA should benefit inmates who showed good behavior and those who are sickly and old.

“May mga nagtanong-tanong na kaagad sino ang nakikinabang at ang sagot ni Miriam e yung una sa lahat yung maganda ang behavior at yung mga ailing at aging convicts dahil ibig sabihin kasi nakakapagpasikip na lang dun it is a good suggestion to decongest the National Bilibid Prison [NBP],” Sotto said.

[Some senators back then asked who would benefit from the measure and Miriam answered that those who should benefit from the GCTA are those who observed good behavior and those who are ailing and aging convicts because it is a good suggestion to decongest the NBP.]  /muf