BuCor releases inmate-witness in kill order vs. Chinese inmates

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) announced Friday the release of detainee Jimmy Fortaleza, a witness in the investigation of the House of Representatives into drug war deaths during the Duterte administration.

According to BuCor, the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206 granted Fortaleza's petition for habeas corpus with prayer for computation of special time allowance for loyalty (STAL).

Due to the STAL, Fortaleza's sentence was reduced to eight years from 32 years. BuCor said Fortaleza has been detained since June 2008 and has served a total of 29 years and five months of imprisonment.

The RTC directed his immediate release.

"Since we already received the requested authenticated copy of the resolution of the Management, Screening and Evaluation Committee from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, there is no reason for Fortaleza to remain in our custody,” BuCor said in a statement.

However, BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said his agency would inform the House Quad Committee regarding the court's decision as Fortaleza is under the joint panel's custody as a witness.

Fortaleza had corroborated the testimonies of two other persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) on the killing of three alleged Chinese drug lords at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in 2016, allegedly upon the orders of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Former Davao Prison and Penal Farm officer-in-charge Gerardo Padilla previously said retired Police Colonel Royina Garma ordered him not to interfere in the operations against the three Chinese.

Padilla said Garma was able to call him through Fortaleza, who was Garma's classmate at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA).

Though Garma admitted to visiting Fortaleza with two other PNPA classmates in 2016, she said that they did not talk about any kill order and only reminisced about their cadetship.

Garma, who has denied involvement in the supposed kill order, was recently cited in contempt by the House for "lying and evading" questions.

In 2019, then-President Rodrigo Duterte named Garma, who was serving as Cebu City's police chief at the time, as the general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). — VDV, GMA Integrated News