BuCor officer admits texting ‘GCTA-for-sale’ witness

MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Officer 3 Veronica Buño admitted on Thursday that she messaged witness Yolanda Camilon who paid P50,000 for the release of her husband from the New Bilibid Prison.

During the resumption of the Senate justice and human rights committee’s probe into the controversial good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Dante Gierran said the agency’s investigation showed that messages were exchanged between Camilon and Buño on February 21, 2019.

Buño was among those implicated in the “GCTA-for-sale” scheme.

During last week’s inquiry, Camilon, the common-law wife of Godfrey Gamboa, an inmate at the NBP bared that BuCor officials were offering to release convicts on good behavior for a fee.

Buño however denied any involvement.

After Gierran presented the NBI’s report, committee chair Senator Richard Gordon pressed Buño on whether or not she talked with Camilon.

Buño maintained that she did not.

Eventually, Buño admitted that she messaged her.

“Naguusap kayo sa text?” Gordon asked Buño.

“Nag-message ako sa kanya,” Buño answered.  /muf