FORMER Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief and now Senator Ronald dela Rosa and other former BuCor officials who had a hand in the early release of heinous crime convicts are not yet off the hook, Malacañang said on Thursday, September 5.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Dela Rosa and erstwhile BuCor officials may also be the subject of the Office of the Ombudsman's investigation into the controversial good conduct time allowance (GCTA) system.
"With respect to Senator Dela Rosa, then that requires an investigation on whatever circumstances that made him sign the release papers," Panelo told Palace reporter in a press briefing.
"Oh, yes. Because the law is very clear naman," he added, when asked if there is also a need to investigate former BuCor officials involved in the granting of early release of heinous crime convicts on the basis of good behavior.
On Wednesday, September 4, Duterte urged the Ombudsman to conduct an inquiry into the possible corruption in the BuCor, specifically the possible bribery of BuCor officials to ensure the release of convicts of heinous crimes for good conduct.
Data from the BuCor revealed that 1,914 individuals who committed heinous crimes were given early freedom since 2014, the year after the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 10592 which grants GCTA that shortens jail time of prisoners for good behavior.
Majority of the freed inmates were convicted of murder (797) and rape (758).
Other prisoners who were granted early release were guilty of robbery (274), illegal drug law violations (48), parricide (29), kidnapping (five), and destructive arson (three).
In a radio interview on Tuesday, September 3, Dela Rosa admitted that during his term as BuCor chief, he signed release orders for around 120 heinous crime convicts in accordance with RA 10592.
Panelo said he was not ruling out the possibility that former BuCor officials involved in the granting of early release of heinous crime convicts may argue that they had "erroneously" interpreted the law.
He, nevertheless, said the executive branch would let the court handle the controversy.
"Ang tingin ko diyan, baka ang defense nila diyan is 'yung implementing rules kasi allowed. Baka sabihin nila, erroneous interpretation ( I think, their possible defense is that the implementing rules allowed it)," he said.
"Pero in other words, pwede rin namang in good faith. Pero bahala na ang court kung ano ang sasabihin ng court diyan (But in other words, it can also be in good faith. But let the court decide and make a decision)," Panelo added.
Under RA 10592 signed in 2013, "recidivists, habitual delinquents, escapees, and persons charged with heinous crimes" cannot benefit from early release.
Malacañang however, noted earlier that the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of RA 10592 signed in 2014 "included those convicted of heinous crimes as qualified to avail the benefits of RA 10592." (SunStar Philippines)