DoJ to suspend BuCor officials linked in ‘GCTA for sale’ controversy

Justice Sec. Menardo Guevarra assured that officials from the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) who were allegedly involved in good conduct time allowance (GCTA) for sale scheme inside the New Bilibid Prison will face suspension.

Guevarra said he will recommend the suspension of the officials to the new chosen officer in charge of BuCor.

This came after President Rodrigo Duterte declared the dismissal of BuCor director general Capt. Nicanor Faeldon.

Correctional Senior Inspector Major Maribel Bansil and Documents division head Staff Sergeant Ramoncito Roque allegedly teamed up to conspire P50,000 to secure the release of an inmate.

This scheme was confirmed by a witness who identified herself as Yolanda Camelon, wife of the said inmate. Camelon confessed that in February, Bansil offered her the GCTA grant for her husband.

Based on BuCor’s record, nine heinous crime convicts surrendered to their headquarter in Muntinlupa City. These former inmates will be put back in prison while the agency is processing their documents. Their GCTAs are also expected to undergo recomputation.

However, BuCor spokesperson Senior Inspector Eusebio del Rosario said there is no assureance if Roque will inhibit in the recomputation.

Since 2014, almost 22,000 convicts were released in New Bilibid Prison due to GCTA while 2,000 inmates were sentenced over heinous crimes.

(With reports from Bombo Christian Yosores)