Gordon says Faeldon, other 'big fish' should've been prosecuted over GCTA mess, too

Senator Richard Gordon on Wednesday lauded the Ombudsman's decision to sack three Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officials in connection with the "GCTA for sale" controversy, but added higher officials — including former BuCor chief Nicanor Faeldon — should have been included.

“That’s a good move but there are others that should be involved. ‘Yung malalaki dapat maisama ‘yan,” Gordon told reporters.

Gordon chairs the Senate blue ribbon committee, which investigated the questionable implementation of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law last year.

Aside from Faeldon, Gordon said the doctors who allowed unqualified convicts to leave the New Bilibid Prison on the basis of GCTA should also be among those prosecuted by the Ombudsman.

“I’m glad the Ombudsman moved fast. That’s a strong signal, pero ‘yung malalaki dapat ma-prosecute ‘yan. I’m talking about Faeldon, halimbawa, strike two na siya diyan,” he said.

A former Marine, Faeldon was fired from the BuCor in light of the GCTA controversy.

“They must cast a wider net. ‘Yung mga doktor na nagpapalabas ng tao, dapat ma-prosecute. Yung legal chief, isa pa yan,” Gordon said.

He said he was supposed to release the committee report on their investigation into the issue but he is not feeling well. He said he will try to release it early next week.

In a 16-page decision, the Ombudsman dismissed from service BuCor Documents Section Chief Ramoncito Roque, and BuCor officials Maribel Bancil and Veronica Buño. They 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.

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. —KBK, GMA News