Gordon says BuCor exec's killing possibly linked to corruption in bureau

Senator Richard Gordon on Monday raised the possibility that the killing of Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) official Ruperto Traya Jr. may have something to do with the alleged corruption inside the bureau.

During the resumption of the Senate hearing on the controversy involving the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law, Gordon asked BuCor chief of documents and records Ramoncito Roque regarding his actions following Traya's killing.

"Hindi ka nagtanong, sino pumatay nito? Imagine nasa Muntinlupa, pinatay, ganun na lang," Gordon asked Roque.

Roque said he has no idea who shot and killed Traya, who he said he has known since the 90s.

Unsatisfied with Roque's answers, Gordon chided him for his lack of reaction to the killing.

"That's all you have, inasa mo na lang sa SWAT? Wala man lang masama ang loob mo, pinatay yung kaibigan mo. Sampal sa mukha ng Muntinlupa yan, sampal sa mukha ng gobyerno," the senator said.

A witness, Yolanda Camilon, had earlier told the Senate panel that she learned of the death threat on Traya through a text message from "Ma'm Mabel," which has been identified as Mabel Bansil, a BuCor senior inspector

Camilon, who bared the alleged "GCTA for sale" racket in the New Bilibid Prison, said she did not take the information seriously, thinking it is only an alibi.

"Yung isip ko nun ay parang naghahanap na lang ng alibi sa akin si Ma'm Madel dahil naga-ask na ako na i-return yung pera namin," she said, adding this took place in July.

"Di mo siya tinanong bakit papatayin?" Gordon asked Camilon, to which Camilon said, "Hindi na po."

Gordon then said: "Kung pinagdikit-dikit ko yan, at yan ang gagawin namin, parang may kaugnayan ito diyan lahat sa mga hingian sa ilalim."

Roque and Bansil, who were both implicated in the alleged "GCTA for sale" scheme, have denied involvement in the illegal activity. —KBK, GMA News