Second batch of plunder raps filed vs. BJMP top officials

Another batch of plunder complaint was filed on Tuesday against top officials of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in connection with the alleged misuse of meal allowance for inmates.

 

Accompanied by Sanlakas and Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), Jail Inspector Angelina Lumba-Bautista filed plunder complaints with the Office of the Ombudsman against nine former and incumbent officials of BJMP including its chief, Director Diony Dacanay Mamaril.

 

Aside from Mamaril, the following active officials of BJMP were slapped with plunder charges:

 

 

Also charged with plunder were three retired BJMP officials: 

 

 

In a phone interview, Bautista, who is currently assigned at the Valenzuela City Jail, said the complaint is still connected with the first batch of plunder cases she filed with the Office of the Ombudsman late last month which stemmed from the alleged “double insertion” of meal allowance by the Bureau.

 

In her earlier complaint filed against seven officials of BJMP including Mamaril, Bautista alleged that some P50 million funds supposed to be for the meal allowance of inmates in Region III were misused by BJMP by entering into contracts with provincial governments for the transfer of supervision of provincial jails from the local governments to the BJMP.

 

Bautista said the while the provincial governments in Region 3 have allocated and released a total of P50 million for meal allowance of BJMP inmates from 2010 to 2013, the Bureua has reported a similar amount of expenditures for the same period.

 

“Ngayon lumalabas na ang ganitong kalakalan ay nangyayari hindi lang sa Region III, kundi sa iba pang regional offices of BJMP. May mga naka-gather pa kaming additional evidence kaya ngayon nag-file kami ng another set of plunder cases,” Baustista said in a phone interview.

 

Bautista also slammed Mamaril for allegedly trying to intimidate her with multiple administrative and criminal complaints before the Office or the Ombudsman.

 

Bautista said she is now facing five cases with the Ombudsman which include charges of grave misconduct, dishonesty, conduct prejudical to the best interest of service and perjury.

 

“Ifinile niya (Mamaril) ito days before ako mag-file ng plunder against them. Inunahan ako kung baga, and then, yung iba naman diyan (sa complaint) days after ako mag-file ng kaso sa kanila. Halatang halata na ginigipit nila ako,” Bautista said.

 

Bautista said the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), the De La Salle University College of Law as well as the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) have already promised to provide her with legal assistance.

 

“Handa akong sagutin lahat ng kaso na sinampa nila dahil malinis ang konsensya ko at nagsisiwalat lang ako ng katotohanan. Sagutin nalang din nila ang mga kaso laban sakanila,” Bautista said.

 

She said that though she has not been receiving any security threats so far, her legal counsels advised her to apply for the DOJ's Witness Protection Program (WPP).

 

“Baka mag-file kami ng application (for WPP) anytime soon,” Bautista said.

 

GMA News Online was trying to get a reaction from Mamaril as of posting time. — RSJ, GMA News