Two more convicts to testify on 'GCTA for sale' scheme —Sotto

Two more convicts released through the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law are set to testify in the Senate about the amount they supposedly paid to authorities to secure their release, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Friday.

"May dalawa na sumurrender, sasabihin nila kung kanino sila naglagay [para makalabas], kaya lalaki na naman itong [issue]," Sotto said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"Itong dalawa, nagpasabi sa akin, through emissary, na magtatapat daw sila kung sino ang pinaglagyan nila," Sotto added.

Sotto said these two individuals, who already sought audience with him, are different from the three who were supposed to testify in the Senate hearing but backed out at the last minute.

Ahead of the resumption of the Senate investigation on GCTA law implementation on Thursday, a duty officer of the New Bilibid Prison was rushed to the hospital after being stabbed by an inmate who is reportedly mentally ill.

Witnesses during Thursday’s probe testified that prostitution, illegal gambling, kidnap-for-ransom racket, illegal drugs, "hospital stay for sale," among others, are rampant in the New Bilibid Prison.

Sotto said he does not see the blue ribbon investigation into the GCTA controversy and alleged corruption in the Bureau of Corrections ending anytime soon.

"'Yung sa Committee on Justice, ang irereport-out nun ay ‘yung sa bills increasing penalty on perjury saka having a separate penal institution for high profile inmates. After nun, siguro puwede na [tapusin]. Pero ‘yung sa Blue Ribbon [Committee], hindi ‘yun matitigil muna,” Sotto said.

The GCTA controversy has already cost former BuCor chief Nicanor Faeldon his job.

The GCTA law, which was passed during the Aquino administration, became controversial after it was reported that among its beneficiaries would be convicted rapist-murderer Antonio Sanchez.

The furor over Sanchez's possible release prompted the government to suspend the implementation of the law pending review. —KBK, GMA News