Palace welcomes prison officials’ suspension over GCTA mess, vows heads will roll
The Palace has welcomed the six-month suspension order without pay slapped on 30 officials of the Bureau of Corrections and the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in connection with the release of convicts of heinous crimes under Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law, saying that those liable will be prosecuted.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo was referring the penalty meted by Ombudsman Samuel Martires, whose office is currently probing the GCTA implementation in the aftermath of claims that releases based on GCTA law are being sold for a hefty price in NBP.
“The expectation is we want the truth on the matter in the Bureau to come out. Heads will roll,” Panelo said in a press conference.
“Sabi ni Presidente, mula’t-sapul, ay dapat i-refer sa Ombudsman…para it will conduct its investigation, hence the suspension. [We] welcome iyon,” Panelo added.
The GCTA law controversy was stirred after it was reported that convicted rapist and killer Antonio Sanchez was expected to be freed from jail due to the GCTA law.
Sanchez is convicted of seven counts of rape and seven counts of homicide over the rape and killing of Eileen Sarmenta and death of Allan Gomez, both UP Los Baños students, in 1993.
Panelo was Sanchez's legal counsel when the latter was convicted of his crimes in 1995—a convicted upheld by the Supreme Court in 1999.
The Senate probe also revealed that Panelo, in a letter, has asked the Board of Pardons and Parole to take action on Sanchez's application for executive clemency in accordance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s policy of transparency and good governance. — BM, GMA News