In China, President Xi Jinping issued an order of special pardon for nine categories of criminals on the occasion of the 70th founding anniversary of the country. (Xinhua)
Four convicted Chinese drug lords were released from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in June, according to the information received by Senator Panfilo Lacson.
“Right now I have a copy of some releases, names of releases. At least four of those released last August 16 are Chinese drug lords. They were released to the custody of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for possible deportation. But these are convicted Chinese drug lords that have already been released as of August 16,” Lacson revealed on Thursday.
Lacson said he will still verify if the drug lords were released due to Good Conduct Time Allowance provision (GCTA) of the Revised Penal Code, the basis of the reported early release of convicted rapist and murderer Antonio Sanchez, a former Laguna mayor.
Lacson said the freed Chinese drug lords were Chan Chit Yue, Kin San Ho, Ching Che, and Wu Hing Sum.
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A fifth Chinese drug lord, Ho Wai Pang, is reportedly set to be transferred to the BI for deportation.
“All these Chinese drug lords were convicted for violation of illegal drug laws,” he added.
The senator also said they are trying to find the copy of the alleged release order of Sanchez but “apparently, the copies are missing.”
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Nicanor Faeldon said there are 11,000 inmates who are set for parole in accordance with the GCTA.
Lacson reiterated the “tara” system in the Bureau of Customs (BOC), which Faeldon previously headed, might be occurring in the BuCor, too.
“That’s why maybe it’s subliminal or malicious or mischievous, that’s why I thought that like in containers, per container P5,000 or P10,000, maybe per released convict, there is a corresponding amount,” Lacson said.
“When we talk of 11,000 convicts to be released at P10,000 each or P5000 each, you can just imagine the huge amount of money involved. I’m not saying it happened. But like what I said, we can think of the possibility. Because why it’s (released) in bulk?”
In a tweet on Wednesday, Lacson implied that the bribery system in BOC has already reached the BuCor.
The Senate Committee on Justice is set to conduct an inquiry on the implementation of the GCTA.
