Three Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officers who were charged with bribery in the release of firearms to the bureau's personnel have surrendered and posted bail of P60,000 each before the Muntinlupa City regional trial court (RTC).
In a statement, BuCor said that those charged and have surrendered were CSINP Alex Hizola, chief of BuCor Armory; and CO1 Arnel Acejo Jameson, CO2 Henry A. Escrupolo.
Warrants of arrest have been issued against them by Judge Abraham Joseph B. Alcantara of Muntinlupa City RTC Branch 204.
BuCor said that the bribery charges were filed after an entrapment operation last September on complaints of “demanding money in exchange for the expedited release of firearms to corrections officer.”
It said that during the initial entrapment operation conducted by the bureau and the Muntinlupa City police, the first person arrested was Janero who was “caught red handed receiving the amount of P6,500 from victim, CO1 Marvin Asoy, in exchange for the issuance of short firearms from BuCor Armory.”
It also said that Janero subsequently admitted to investigators he was supposed to turn over the money to Escrupolo who was assigned to the Escorting Unit of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
Another entrapment operation was arranged after Escrupolo instructed Janero to deliver the money to his office, BuCor said.
“During verification check, Escrupulo’s phone revealed exchanging text messages with Hizola relative to the issuance of firearms,” it added.
“This should serve as an example and strong warning to all BuCor personnel who will not heed our call to reform,” BuCor Director General Gregorio P. Catapang Jr. said.
“We will not tolerate any wrong doings in the agency and we will continue our relentless drive to weed the agency of undesirables,” he declared.