Senate: Faeldon must face raps on GCTA

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate has approved a committee report recommending the filing of graft and bribery charges against former Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon, prison doctors and other BuCor officials for alleged involvement in the “good conduct time allowance (GCTA) for sale” scam wherein convicts reportedly give bribes in exchange for their early release.

The report, drafted by four panels led by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee and signed by 17 senators, sought the filing of charges for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019) against Faeldon, BuCor records chief Ramoncito Roque, Corrections Senior Insp. Benilda Bansil, Corrections Officer Veronica Buno, Dr. Ernesto Tamayo, Dr. Urcisio Cenas and nursing attendant Meryl Benitez.

The report was authored by the committees on justice and human rights, chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon; constitutional amendments, chaired by Sen. Francis Pangilinan and finance, chaired by Sen. Sonny Angara.

Last year, the committees probed the alleged moneymaking scheme by BuCor officials in implementing the GCTA law, which allows the release of convicts for good behavior using a formula that deducts days from their sentences.

They recommended that Faeldon be charged for violating Section 3(e) of RA 3019 for “causing any injury to any party, including the government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official, administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”

Faeldon was accused of ordering the release of rapist-murderer Antonio Sanchez, who is supposed to serve seven consecutive life sentences. While there were allegations of him receiving money, the inquiry did not establish that.

The report said Faeldon did not follow the Department of Justice’s Order 953 that required him to seek the permission of the Office of the Justice Secretary first before releasing convicts.

Roque, Bansil and Buno were recommended to be charged with grave offense of soliciting and accepting bribes, which is also in violation of the Revised Penal Code.

On the other hand, Tamayo, Cenas and Benitez were also recommended to be charged for accepting bribes and direct bribery.