MANILA (UPDATED) - The Office of the Ombudsman on Monday suspended for six months, without pay, 27 officials and personnel of the Bureau of Corrections for gross misconduct and gross neglect of duty over the release of heinous crime convicts under the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law.
According to the order signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires, the said officials and personnel "allowed the questionable release of prison convicts" in violation of the Revised Penal Code.
"This Office finds that evidence in the form of testimonies of witnesses and public documents showing the anomalous release of prisoners convicted of heinous crimes/offenses appear to be strong," the order added.
The respondents will also be charged with grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, the Ombudsman said.
The order also request the Department of Justice to immediately implement the order and submit proof of compliance within 5 days.
Among those suspended are the following:
CO1 Jomar Coria
CInsp. Roy Vivo
CSSupt. Wildfredo Bayona
C03 John Edward S. Basi
CInsp. Abel Dr. Ciruela
CCInsp. Roger Boncales
PGII Eduardo M. Cabuhat
Ma. Lourdes Razon, MD
Mary Loy Arbatin
Susana Ortega
PGIII Anthony Nupable Omega
PGII Antonio Calumput
PSupt. Roberto Rabo
CCInsp. Jones Lanuza
CSO1 Victor de Monteverde
CTSO2 Ramoncito D. Roque
CInsp. Benjamin B. Barrios
CSupt. Gerardo F. Padilla
PSII Francisco B. Abunales
CSSSupt. Celso S. Bravo
CSSupt. Melencio S. Faustino
CTO3 Cherry V. Caliston
Ruelito D. Pulmano
CInsp. Emerita Q. Aguilar
CInsp. Raymund Peneyra
Maribel Bancil
Veronica Buño
- with a report from Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News
Office of the Ombudsman, Samuel Martires, Bureau of Corrections, good conduct time allowance