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Manila Bulletin devider devider Ombudsman orders 6-month suspension of 27 BuCor Officials over questionable GCTA releases

Ombudsman orders 6-month suspension of 27 BuCor Officials over questionable GCTA releases

Published Sep 9, 2019 10:44 pm
By Czarina Nicole Ong-Ki The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the six-month preventive suspension of 27 officials from the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) due to their involvement in the controversial release of inmates under the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law. Office of the Ombudsman (MANILA BULLETIN) Office of the Ombudsman (MANILA BULLETIN) The four-page order, signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on September 9, preventively suspended Officer-in-Charge CTSO2 Ramoncito Roque from the Inmate Documents and Processing Section (IDPS); Supervisor CInsp. Benjamin Barrios from the Board of Discipline, Maximum Security Camp; CSupt. Gerardo Padilla, Chief Superintendent from the National Bilibid Prison (NBP); NBP Superintendent PSII Francisco Abunales; Officer-in-Charge CSSupt. Celso Bravo from the Directorate for Security and Operations; CSSupt. Melencio Faustino, Regional Superintendent of the Davao Prison and Penal Farm; CTO3 Cherry Caliston, Chief of the Documents Division of the Davao Prison and Penal Farm; Liaison Officer Ruelito Pulmano of the IDPS; and CInsp. Emerita Aguilar, Chief of the Reformation and Rehabilitation Office. Likewise included in the suspension order are several officials in charge of the Maximum Security Compound. They are CInsp. Raymund Peneyra, Chief Overseer; CInsp. Roy Vivo, COG; CSSupt. Wilfredo Bayona, Deputy Superintendent; CO3 John Edward Basi, Assistant Chief of the Reformation and Rehabilitation Office of the Maximum Security Compound; CO1 Jomar Coria from NBP South; CInsp. Abel Ciruela, COG-MSE; Susana Ortega, OIC of the Prison Industry Office of the Maximum Security Compound; PGIII Anthony Nupable Omega, OIC of the Sports and Recreation Office; OIC Overseer PGII Antonio Calumpit; and CSO1 Victor De Monteverde, Chief of the Alternative Learning System. Also facing the preventive suspension are DSO-NBP North CCInsp. Roger Boncales; OIC of Training and Education Office PGII Eduardo Cabuhat; OIC of the Medical and Dental Office Ma. Lourdes Razon; Chief Mod. Office Chief Mary Lou Arbatin; NBP Superintendent PSupt. Roberto Rabo; Deputy Superintendent for Reformation CCInsp. Jones Lanuza of the NBP; NBP Correctional Senior Inspector Maribel Bancil; and NBP Custodial Officer Veronica Buño. They are all placed under six-month preventive suspension without pay so as to avoid "prejudice" in the cases filed against them. The Ombudsman's order came in the wake of an ongoing investigation concerning BuCor officials relative to the reportedly anomalous release of prison convicts charged with heinous crimes through the GCTA law. Based on the testimonies of witnesses and public documents gathered, the Office of the Ombudsman came to the conclusion that the respondents allowed the questionable releases while in the conduct of their public functions. "This Office finds that the evidence in the form of testimonies of witnesses and public documents allowing the anomalous release of prisoners convicted of heinous crimes/offenses appear to be strong," the order stated. Aside from the preventive suspension, the respondents are also charged with Grave Misconduct, Gross Neglect of Duty, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service. If warranted, the respondents may even be removed from office. Martires directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra to immediately implement the preventive suspension order.
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