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Wednesday, September 4, 2Ot9

'Hold Faeldon liable'

Solon: No heinous crimes convict should be released
BYwENDELLvTGTUA
* RA 10592 increased the GCTA
being given to convicts.
AN author of the good conduct "He is liable. As far as I see, the
time allowance (GCTA) lawwants cleat spitit and inteot of the larv is
Bureau ofCorections Director that they should not release (con-
General Nicanor Faeldon held li- victs of) heinous crimes," Cagayan
able for the eady release of inmates de Oto City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez
convicted of heinous crimes. said in an interview with ANC's
Section 1 of RepubJic Act No. Headstatt TV program.
10592, which contains the original "There should have been no
provisions on the GCTA, states release and absolutely no release of
that "persons charged with hei- those involved in heinous crimes,"
nous crimes are excluded from the said Rodriguez, one of the law's
covefage," proponents and a veteran lawyer
During the hearing of ihe House
fustice committee yesterday, t}re
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor)
sau.d 2,160 inmates convicted of
heinous cdmes have been released
under the GCTA since 2013 when
the law was sigoed.
"2,1.60 released heinous crimes
convicts means 2,160 counts.
2,760 years (imprisonment) and
216,000,000 fines per person,"
Nogtales said.
Nograles said data obtained by
his office showed that from 2013,
22,049 pisoners wete released be-
cause of the GCTA law but BuCor
data presented before the justice
panel shoved that only 18,885
wete released.
Capt. Eusebio del Rosario, chief
of the BuCot Pubiic Information
Office, said the data on 22,049
prisoners still include those who
were released under parole and
executive clemency but Nograles
questioned the figure, saying that
See SOLON ) Page B7

the release of persons dePrived

SOLON
no prisoner should have been
released because of
the GCTA
in 2013 since its implementing
rules and regulations (IRR) was
published only in2074.
Supt. Melencio Faustino, head
of the Davao Penal Farrn, told
lawmakers that it was Faeldon who
ordered him not to submit to the
general ordered us not to transmit
to anyone,"
Faustino said Faeldon issued
the order because the bureau was
"saddled" by severiil caies-filed
in coutt and because the bureau
had a "very limited number of
personnel."
Rodriguez said Faeldon must be
held liable because undet Seciion
6 of RA 1,0592, the law's penal
of liberty who ate guilty of hei-
nous crimes, should be chatged
with criminal and adminisuative
complaints.
Chief Ptesidential Legal Coun-
sel Salvador Panelo said President
Duterte "will mainain die status
quo" in the BuCor leadership
ountil the congressioaal hearings
are concluded." ji

Department of Justice the GCTA
recotds of convicts applying for
early relea'se despite facing life
imprisonmeot. ' ooe-year imprisonment, a fine of
"That gives us now the tev-
elation that Faeldon has directed
them not to follorv the department
order itself. If it was followdd,
none of these heinous crime con-
vics would have been teleased,"
Rodriguez told the panel.
Rodriguez was referring to De-
partment Oider No. 935 directing
BuCor to submit to the DOJ all
appeals for eadyrelease and applica-
tions of GCTA of convicts serving
life sentences for heinous crimes.
Supteme Court Associate Justice
Benjamin Caguioa was the one
who issued the directive when he
was iustice secretary.
'Yes, your honor, we are remiss
in our duty to transmit," Faustino
ptovision states that any public of-
ficer or employee who violates the
provisions of the Act could face
P100,000 and perpetual disqualifi-
cation from holding office.
He said other members of
the BuCor management, and the
evaluation and screening commit-
tees should also be held adrniois-
uatively and criminally liable.
PBA party-list Rep. Jericho
Nogtales said the law's penal
provisions must be considered
in case filing of a criminal suit is
recommended against all the of-
ficials who ptocessed the release
of convicts.
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa is Fael-
don's predecessor in the BuCor.
Nograles said members of the
managemeng scteening and evalu-
ation committee (NISEC), if found
Faeldon, during a Senate hi:ar-
irg on'Monday, said he worild not
resign as he invoked the PresumP-
tion of regularityin processing dre
eatly release of convicted rapist
and murdeterAntonio Sanchez for
good behavior.
Asked if Malacaiang still con-
siders Faeldon competenq Panelo
said, "I carrnot say anything about
that because, firsg that lies on the
President's disctetion. I will not
be prejudging any Person in this
arena. It's the Senate investiga-
tion... they will be having their
own recommendations and the
President will evaluate and make
a decision, unless sooner decided
by the President himself," he said.
He reiterated that unless the
President says otherwise, it is pre-
sumed that Duterte still has trust
and confidenc e rnF aeldon.' With
Inralnm Mnnlennttor