MANILA – Several Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officials were making money out of the early release of prisoners through the good conduct time allowance (GCTA), a witness at the Senate revealed.
Yolanda Camelon, during the Senate Blue Ribbon and Justice Committee hearing on Thursday, said BuCor officials led by Staff Sergeant Ramoncito Roque asked P50,000 from her in exchange for the early release of her husband.
Camelon added it was Correctional Senior Inspector Maribel “Mabel” Bansil who approached her about the offer before she was introduced to Roque and another BuCor official she identified as Veronica Buno.
During the course of her negotiation with Roque’s group, Camelon said she was able to encounter BuCor chief administrative officer 3 Ruperto Traya Jr., who was ambushed in Muntinlupa City last month.
Camelon said Bansil first approached her in February, asking if she wanted her husband freed through the GCTA law for P50,000.
She added she was allowed to pay the amount in installment and was able to complete the P50,000 payment in three installments within February – P10,000 in Roque’s house with Bansil present and the next two P20,000 each.
Her contacts allegedly told her that her husband would walk out of prison in March but it never happened. She was then told that his release would be done in June, but this was not fulfilled either. Next, she was told it would be in October.
“Nag decide po ako sa sarili ko, sabi ko this is the time na siguro talaga na magsumbong ako dahil ako mismo nabiktima ng GCTA na ‘yan,” said Cameron, adding the BuCor officials were once again asking money from her.
The implementation of Republic Act 10592, which expanded the GCTA of prisoners, has come under scrutiny after the Justice department announced that convicted rapist-killer Antonio Sanchez could be released from prison because of supposed good behavior.
Senators said BuCor has to seek the approval of the Department of Justice before releasing any convict on the account of good allowance but Justice secretary Menardo Guevarra said no such request was coursed through his office since he took the post./PN
