Ombudsman sacks 3 BuCor officials over 'GCTA for sale' controversy

Three Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officials were ordered dismissed from service by the Ombudsman in connection with the questionable implementation of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA), a controversy that broke out last year.

According to Allan Gatus' report on Dobol B sa News TV on Wednesday, the three were identified as BuCor Documents Section Chief Ramoncito Roque and BuCor officials Maribel Bancil and Veronica Buño.

FLASH REPORT: 3 opisyal Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), pinasisibak sa pwesto ng @OmbudsmanPh dahil sa maanomalyang Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA). | via @allangatus pic.twitter.com/S0hBa7LqVC

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 29, 2020

According to a 16-page decision signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires, the three were found guilty of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Aside from dismissal from service, the three were barred from taking Civil Service examination and disqualified from holding any government post in the future. Their retirement benefits were also forfeited and their eligibility canceled.

"In administrative proceedings, only substantial evidence is required to warrant disciplinary sanctions. Substantial evidence is consistently defined as such amount of relevant evidence which a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion," the Ombudsman said.

In the same decision, Martires also ordered the filing of graft and direct bribery cases against the three before the regional trial court.

Roque, Bancil and Buño had earlier been suspended for six months without pay over the "GCTA for sale" controversy where convicts could supposedly secure early release for a fee.

Yolanda Camilon, who blew the whistle on the scheme, had accused Roque, Bansil and Buño of extorting P50,000 in exchange for the early release of her husband from the New Bilibid Prison based on the GCTA.

Testifying at a Senate investigation last year, Camilon narrated how she communicated with Bansil and Buño to discuss her husband's release.

Roque was allegedly the one who called the shots. According to Camilon, Bansil introduced her to Roque.

The Ombudsman said that as public officers, Roque, Bansil and Buño "are strictly prohibited to demand or receive money in connection with the performance of their official duties."

The alleged scheme came to light after it was revealed that convicted murderer-rapist Antonio Sanchez, a former mayor in Laguna, were among the beneficiaries of the GCTA Law, which allows for a reduction of sentences of inmates.

Amid the public outcry, President Rodrigo Duterte blocked Sanchez's release. —KBK, GMA News