At the hearing on corruption and the recycling of drugs, Sen. Lacson smelled a ‘lutong makaw’ in the case of 13 police officers tagged in a controversial anti-drug operation in Pampanga in 2013.
Earlier, Lacson moved to have SPO1 Ronald Santos cited in contempt, for his failure to attend previous Senate inquiries even after being subpoenaed. Santos was among those 13 police officers tagged for grave misconduct in a controversial anti-drug operation in November 2013.
At the Senate hearing on ‘ninja cops,’ Sen. Lacson questioned the seeming lack of action against the police personnel involved a controversial anti-drug operation in 2013. He also nearly moved to have a police officer cited in contempt for not being forthright.
At the fifth Senate hearing on the irregularities at the Bureau of Corrections, Sen. Lacson bared at least seven moneymaking schemes inside the New Bilibid Prison, both petty and large-scale. “Maraming issues. Pagpasok ng contraband. May ‘special request.’ Pagpasok ng ’tilapia.’ Pagpasok ng extended period ng visitation, may bayad.”
While BuCor legal division chief Anthony Frederic Santos confirmed there was corruption in the NBP, with the payoffs depending on the inmate’s ‘level,’ Lacson pointed out the committee also invited former BuCor OIC Rafael Ragos and NBI intelligence agent Jovencio Ablen Jr to give the Senate panel a clearer picture of corruption at BuCor. “The moneymaking scheme has been there since timeimmemorial,” Sen. Lacson said. “(This Senate investigation is) with the end in view to resolve these issues and come up with legislation to (stop) these malpractices,” he added.
Lacson also asked BuCor OIC Melvin Ramon Buenafe if the situation in BuCor is still reversible, since some inmates have “good command and control over their fellow inmates, even BuCor employees.” He said “surgical action” is needed especially to stop practices like letting inmates out overnight to commit crimes, and get back in.
At the Senate hearing on the release of heinous crime convicts via GCTA, Sen. Lacson bared how prohibited items from mobile phones to illegal drugs to firearms are being used inside the maximum security area in the New Bilibid Prison. “Is this the kind of strictness in the policy of containing the entry or preventing the entry of contraband, especially mobile phones? There are other prisoners who openly post on Facebook. Ang iba high-profile cases.”
In an interview on DWIZ, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– corruption and other irregularities at the Bureau of Corrections
– transfer of high-profile convicts to Marines facility from New Bilibid Prison
– possible attempts to insert pork in the 2020 budget
At the Senate hearing on the release of heinous crime convicts via GCTA, Sen. Lacson stressed the need for closer coordination between the Board of Pardons and Parole and the Bureau of Corrections. He also welcomed the disclosure of DOJ Sec. Menardo Guevarra that an initial batch of heinous crime convicts who were released via GCTA had surrendered, after President Duterte gave them 15 days to turn themselves in.
Firing Faeldon and giving 15 days for the 1,900 released convicts to surrender are reasons enough for me to continue supporting President Duterte’s advocacies and programs against criminality.
We are like-minded in our position to give preference to the rights of victims and society at large over the rights of criminal offenders.
In an interview, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– Sec. Panelo’s ‘referral’ for ex-Mayor Sanchez
– Senate Bill 993, repealing RA 10592
– BuCor head Faeldon’s inconsistencies on Sanchez release
