Corrupt BuCor officials involved in GCTA mess to go, says Duterte

September 13, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte said only Bureau of Corrections officials who were engaged in corruption would be sacked and not those who were just doing their ministerial duty to implement the law on good conduct time allowance despite its infirmities.

In a speech in Balanga City, Bataan on Thursday night, Duterte said the GTCA law did not mention who was really authorized to process those who could benefit from it.

"So the guys there in the Bureau --- in BuCor took upon themselves to arrogate the power and started a practice which was continued," he said.

"So setting aside all the legal infirmities there, even if it was allowed, corruption was present. I'll just tell you, and everybody will go --- will have to go. They knew it. Not because they were maybe exercising a questionable provision of law and arrogating upon themselves or to themselves that power, that's nothing to me," he said.

The President said if the BuCor officials approved the application under the GCTA in good faith, he would not fire them.

"But if you collected payment, ah that is another story. I will hit you not because the law was in the limbo but because of corruption. You can expect that from me," Duterte explained.

Some 2,000 inmates who were convicted of heinous crimes were released under GTCA even if they were not qualified.

The Senate has been conducting an investigation into the GCTA mess. Some BuCor officials allegedly made money out of the law.

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the suspension of some 30 BuCor officials while investigation has been ongoing. Celerina Monte/DMS