27 BuCor officials suspended over GCTA controversy

FILE: New Bilibid Prison; the NBP Reservation houses the BuCor headquarters (Photo By Monzonda at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Twenty-seven officials of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) have been suspended for six months without pay over the questionable release of heinous crime convicts under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law.

In an order released on Monday, September 9, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said these officials are guilty of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

“This Office finds that the evidence in the form of testimonies of witnesses and public documents showing the anomalous release of prisoners convicted of the heinous crimes/offenses appear to be strong,” he said.

The officials ordered suspended are Inmate Documents and Processing Section (IDPS) officer-in-charge Ramoncito Roque, Maximum Security Camp of Board Discipline Supervisor Benjamin Barrios, National Bilibid Prison (NBP) Chief Gerardo Padilla, NBP Superintendent Francisco Abunales, Directorate for Security and Operations officer-in-charge Celso Bravo, Davao Prison and Penal Farm Regional Superintendent Melencio Faustino, Davao Prison and Penal Farm Documents Division Chief Cherry Caliston, IDPS Liaison Officer Ruelito Pulmano, Reformation and Rehabilitation Office Chief Emerita Aguilar, and Maximum Security Compound Chief Overseer Raymund Peneyra.

Likewise, NBP South Reformation Coordinator for Education and Training Maximum Security Compound Jomar Coria, Maximum Security Compound Commander of the Guard Roy Vivo, NBP South Maximum Security Compound Deputy Superintendent Wilfredo Bayona, Reformation and Rehabilitation Office of the Maximum Security Compound Assistant Chief John Edward Basi, Maximum Security Compound COG-MSE Abel Ciruela, NBP North Directorate for Security and Operations Roger Boncales, Training and Education Office officer-in-charge Eduardo Cabuhat, Medical and Dental Office officer-in-charge Lourdes Razon, Behavior Modification Office Chief Mary Lou Arbatin, Maximum Security Compound Prison Industry Office officer-in-charge Susana Ortega, Maximum Security Compound Sports and Recreation Office officer-in-charge Anthony Nupable Omega, OIC Overseer of the Maximum Security Compound Antonio Calumpit, NBP Superintendent Roberto Rabo, NBP Deputy Superintendent for Reformation Jones Lanuza, and Maximum Security Compound Alternative Learning System Chief Victor de Monteverde are also facing the preventive suspension.

Martires said the BuCor officials’ continued stay in office “may prejudice the cases filed against them” since they “presently have custody and control over the documents pertaining to the questionable release of the convicted prisoners.

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The Ombudsman directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to immediately implement the suspension order and submit a proof of compliance within five days.

Prior to their suspension, President Rodrigo Duterte has sacked Nicanor Faeldon as BuCor chief amid the GCTA controversy, a decision which the latter accepted “with no hard feelings.

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