SENATE probers firmed up a consensus Monday to fast-track remedial legislation mandating major reforms in the national penitentiary amid the scandal over the grant—for a fee —of good conduct time allowance (GCTA) to prisoners serving time for heinous crimes as a way to cut short their prison terms.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III indicated Monday that senators are poised to craft sweeping prison reforms arising from findings of the joint inquiry being conducted by the Committees on Justice and Human Rights, Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, Public Order and Dangerous Drugs and Finance.
“Not only reform the people inside [prisons], we reform the entire penitentiary system,” Sotto said.
The Senate leader cited reports reaching probers indicating a “top-to-bottom prison anomaly” requiring drastic reforms in the existing penal system, especially with the abuse of the law expanding GCTA to deserving convicts as a means of declogging prisons. This, even as Sen. Panfilo Lacson observed that prison officers testifying at Monday’s inquiry appeared to be evasive in their replies under questioning, triggering suspicions they were out to mislead the Senate inquiry.
An exasperated Lacson, confronting Senior Inspector Roy Vivo, warned that sanctions can be imposed on evasive witnesses, when Vivo was asked about prisoners’ access to “contraband cellphones” smuggled into prison cells. “We are strict on cellphones with help from SAF,” Vivo claimed, referring to the Special Action Force augmenting prison guards.
“If you don’t stop lying we will bombard you with questions,” warned Lacson, as he lamented that with “each hearing we are being lied to.” Noting that some PNP witnesses appear to be afflicted by sudden amnesia, the former PNP chief turned senator at one point rued that “even basic information can’t be recalled by the witnesses” who were first made to swear to tell the truth before questioning by senators.
Ailments faked
At the same time, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go observed that prisoners were known to be faking ailment to get a hospital pass, citing reports this was being abused by prison officials “for money.”
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, in turn, assured senators that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will promptly enforce prison reforms, vowing immediate action on findings of the Senate investigating committees.
For his part, Senate President Sotto confirmed readiness to issue subpoena duces tecum to obtain relevant documents that will help the senators craft remedial legislation.
“Gusto natin makumpleto talaga ito, kasi ano ba gagawin natin, ganun na lang? Di ba from top to bottom may allegation, talagang [We really want to complete this, because, what, do we just leave this hanging? Isn’t there an allegation of irregularity from top to bottom, so we really] have to solve this once and for all; amend the IRR or ask the DOJ to change the IRR, or come up with a new law that cannot be abused,” said Sen. Richard Gordon, blue ribbon chairman.
Image credits: Roy Domingo