PACC defies Ombudsman, pursues own probe into GCTA mess

The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) is pursuing a separate investigation into the "anomalous" implementation of  good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law despite the prohibition of the Office of the Ombudsman, which claims to have sole jurisdiction over the issue.

PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica on Monday said that President Rodrigo Duterte gave him a direct order t to launch a separate investigation on the GCTA mess.

“Nandito kami ngayon sa [New] Bilibid [Prison]. Nag-iimbestiga kami. Kausap namin yung mga inmate tsaka mga opisyal,” Belgica said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

“Meron po kaming direct orders sa Pangulo, specifically ako na mag-imbestiga rito,” he added.

LIVE sa DZBB: Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission commissioner Greco Belgica kaugnay ng mga anumalya sa New Bilibid Prisons.

????: @dzbb 594 kHz
????: #DobolBSaNewsTV
????: https://t.co/Q2O7p05pWH pic.twitter.com/ErzYgcKuzC

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 9, 2019

The Ombudsman said no other agency would be allowed to conduct a parallel probe into GCTA issue unless authorized by the office. 

Belgica said the PACC has its own authority and would not just take orders from the Ombudsman.

“Itong sinasabi nila na magkakaroon ng conflict sa possible findings pero  hindi naman kami para utusan ng Ombudsman. May hiwalay naman kaming kapangyarihan,” he said.

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 convicted of heinous crimes such as murder and rape.

The convicts were released on the basis of Republic Act No. 10592, a 2013 law that increased GCTAs or days that may be deducted from prison terms of qualified prisoners who show good behavior.

A wife of an inmate at the NBP testified before a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing that prisoners in the national penitentiary can avail of an early release through GCTA for a fee. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News