Senate subpoenas Faeldon in GCTA probe but BuCor chief sends regrets
Credit to Author: BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO| Date: Sun, 01 Sep 2019 04:25:23 +0000
THE Senate has ordered Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Nicanor Faeldon to attend the inquiry into the alleged questionable release – under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTS) law – of prisoners convicted of heinous crimes.
Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, subpoenaed Faeldon to attend the public hearing on Monday, September 2, to answer allegations that he violated some provisions of the GCTA in releasing some convicts.
The subpoena dated August 31 was signed by Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd. Four other Senate committees will jointly conduct the hearing into the alleged misapplication of GCTA in releasing those convicted of heinous crimes.
The senators want Faeldon to explain his decision to release former Calauan, Laguna mayor Antonio Sanchez, who was sentenced to seven life terms for the rape-slay of University of the Philippines-Los Banos (UPLB) student Eileen Sarmenta in 1993 and the murder of her boyfriend Alan Gomez.
Faeldon sent the senator a letter that he could not attend the scheduled public hearing to attend a seminar sponsored by the Canadian government. He instead designated BuCor’s legal chief to attend on his behalf.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said it was high time for President Rodrigo Duterte to sack Faeldon. “Kahit saan siya pumunta mayroong controversy (He [Faeldon] is involved in controversy wherever he goes [or assigned].”
Faeldon had been accused of negligence for the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu when he was still Customs commissioner.
“Siguro naman panahon na para palitan si Faeldon (It is high time that Faeldon must be replaced [as BuCor chief],” Drilon said in a radio interview.
He said that Faeldon must explain why he should not be detained at the Senate should he fail to attend the inquiry.
“Kung walang justifiable reason, dapat i-detain siya hanggang sumagot siya sa mga tanong ng mga senador (If there is no justifiable reason, he should be detained until he answers the questions of the senators),” Drilon added.