GCTA could be 'sold' for higher than P50,000, says Hontiveros

The amount supposedly asked by prison officials in exchange for the early release of an inmate in the New Bibilid Prison varies depending on the social standing of the prisoner, a witness told a Senate hearing on Monday.

"Sa obserbasyon ko po, depende po sa katayuan ng buhay," said Yolanda Camelon, answering a question from Senator Risa Hontiveros, during the resumption of the hearing on the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) issue.

Camelon had earlier said some officials in the national penitentiary had asked for P50,000 in exchange of her husband’s early release. She said they settled for that amount after she informed them that they could not afford a bigger amount.

"Sinabi ko na hindi ko kaya yung mga ganung amount, kaya nagsabi sila na kahit yung P50,000 ay okay na," she said.

Hontiveros then raised the possibility that bigger amounts could be asked from the family of wealthy inmates.

"Puwede nating isipin na sa ibang  mga inmates hindi lang P50,000 yung hihingiin," she said. "So malaki-laking pera rin po."

According to Bureau of Corrections, at least 22,049 persons deprived of liberty (PDL) were released from 2014 to 2019 through GCTA, with 1,914 of them had been convicted of heinous crimes such as murder and rape. 

The GCTA became a big issue when it was revealed last month that convicted rapist and murderer Antonio Sanchez could go free due to the law.  —KBK, GMA News