The decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to sack Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Nicanor Faeldon and order a full recall of all inmates who were granted early liberty on the basis of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law, is a clear and undeniable proof that there are no sacred cows in his government said Senator Manny Pacquiao.
And now that no less than Duterte has declared that Faeldon was wrong to allow the early release of heinous crime convicts, Pacquiao said all other BuCor officials who had something to do with the facilitation and documentation of the release orders should either resign or take a leave-of-absence until after the Senate completes its investigation.
“This whole mess was not just about Undersecretary Faeldon.”
“This whole mess was not just about Undersecretary Faeldon. There are other BuCor officials who are directly and indirectly responsible for allowing the release of hard-cored criminals which are not supposed to be covered by the GCTA Law. Dapat mag resign o kaya ay mag leave muna sila habang iniimbestigahan namin ito,” the legislator said.
Before Duterte’s announcement of Faeldon’s termination as BuCor chief, Pacquiao had asked Faeldon to take a leave to spare the President from being dragged into the GCTA fiasco.
According to the senator, the President’s strong pronouncements in relation of Faeldon’s alleged abuse in granting early release for hardcore convicts should be enough to refute claims that the president is protecting Faeldon despite his alleged improprieties.
Pacquaio even noted that the President has ordered the Office of the Ombudsman to conduct a deeper probe into allegations of corruption in the selection of convicts who were released under the terms of the GTCA Law.
“This is the best testament that the President is equally enraged and disappointed with the actions of Faeldon and he is prepared to get into the bottom of this. This shows that Faeldon is no sacred cow,” Pacquiao said.
“It would be best for the other key officials of the BuCor to take a leave-of-absence.”
He said that with the sacking of Faeldon, it would be best for the other key officials of the BuCor to take a leave-of-absence.
If not, Pacquiao would recommend to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra to temporarily suspend these officials pending the full completion of all ongoing investigations related to the GTCA controversy.