Inmates claim 'GCTA for sale' scheme; slain BuCor exec tagged

An inmate at the New Bilibid Prisons and the wife of another have linked the chief of the Bureau of Corrections' Inmates Document Processing Division to extortion in exchange for good conduct time allowances that would mean their early release.

According to Emil Sumangil's report on "24 Oras", inmate Charlie said he was asked by division chief Ramoncito "Chito" Roque and his subordinates alias Boday and Mabel to cough up P50,000 so that his GCTA papers could be facilitated.

"Sila po ang nagbigay ng presyo... P50,000," Charlie said. "Lalaya raw ako."

The P50,000 fee was delivered at Roque's residence.

"Kinabukasan, tumawag na ang tao ni Roque, sabi niya magbigay kayo ng P50,000, sabi ni boss, para matapos na. So sabi ng asawa ko, bigay na natin para matapos na. Pumunta sila sa opisina, ako naghintay sa restaurant, pumasok ang asawa ko, sabi sa bahay ko na ibinigay niyo ang pera, para hindi halata," said Charlie, who has living-out privilege and could leave the penitentiary.

Roque is said to be the signatory in the documents pertaining to the inmates' GCTA credits.

‘Slain Bucor exec in talks’

Charlie also claimed having talked to Roque's deputy chief, Ruperto Traya Jr.

Traya was the BuCor official killed outside his home in Muntinlupa in August.

According to a probe by Muntinlupa Police, Traya was in charge of collecting and filing GCTA documents, but was not the signatory for these.

"Mabuti siyang kausap, maganda ang salita niya nung una," Charlie said, referring to Traya.

"Noong naibigay na namin ang pera, ayaw na niyang makipagharap sa amin, ayaw ni Traya. Tuwing pumupunta kami run, lumalabas siya, tumatalikod siya. Ayaw na niya makipag-usap."

Charlie still hasn't gotten his release.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III has asked that an investigation into the circumstances regarding Traya's killing amid the GCTA controversy.

Lydia’s story

The Bureau of Corrections has been at the center of the GCTA mess after three convicts of the Chiong sisters rape-slay and five convicted drug lords were released due to the application of Republic Act 10592.

Convicted rapist-killer Antonio Sanchez was also almost released before fired BuCor director general Nicanor Faeldon recalled the release memo.

The wife of another inmate Lydia corroborated Charlie's story.

Like in Charlie's case, Lydia's husband had only been in jail for a few years, but received an offer from Roque's group to process his GCTA documents.

"Tatlo sila, una yung tumatawag sa akin sa CP, pangalawa yung tumatanggap ng pera, at yung hepe nila, sino po yun? Si Chito Roque, head ng documents section," said Lydia, who added that she had to take out a loan for the money.

"Tinatawagan nila ako sa CP, fina-follow up nila ang budget ko, hihingi nila yung 50k, on hand ko lang 10k, OK na raw iyon, yung balance pag available na."

But just like in Charlie's case, nothing happened.

GMA News is still trying to get Roque's side. Efforts are also ongoing to get a statement from Traya's family.

Meanwhile, inmates and their kin could not help but hit out at their plight at the hands of BuCor officials.

"Daming kawawa, daming walang pera na kagaya ko na uutangin mo pa yung kakainin mo, pambili ng pagkain, maraming matatanda diyan na hindi nakakalabas actually, na nagkakasakit, marami ng nagkamatay diyan, dahil hindi na lumabas dahil sa ganyang sistema nila," Charlie said.

"Kung talagang may pusong tao si Pangulong Duterte, palitan lahat ng opisyal ng bucor, maglagay tayo ng taong may puso yung mga taong marunong tumupad sa tungkulin nila," Lydia added.

GMA News has helped them reach out to Senate members who are currently probing the GCTA mess. They were able to meet Sotto, along with Senators Panfilo Lacson, Bong Go, Ronald Dela Rosa, Franklin Drilon, and Richard Gordon.  —NB/JST, GMA News