Faeldon a test case for Duterte

The fate of Bureau of Corrections director general Nicanor Faeldon will reveal President Rodrigo Duterte’s commitment to his campaign promises, a senator said on Tuesday.

Faeldon admitted it was his signature on the “memorandum of release” for rape-slay convict Antonio Sanchez but it was not an actual order to free the former Calauan, Laguna mayor.

As for the three convicted murderers of Cebuano sisters Jacqueline and Maryjoy Chiong who were also reportedly raped, Faeldon confirmed they are now free based on the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law.

“Since Faeldon has categorically stated that he’s leaving his fate to the appointing authority, the subsequent action of the President will say a lot about his avowed battle against drugs and corruption,” Senator Panfilo Lacson said.

During Monday’s Senate inquiry on the implementation of Republic Act No. 10592 or the Revised Penal Code’s GCTA law, Faeldon said he will not step down from his post.

The BuCor chief said he will leave his fate to the President

But Lacson believed that Faeldon has abused his position as the three murderers in Chiong case easily “got away” and Sanchez’s release was suspended only after the public has denounced his aborted liberty.

“Maliwanag na palusot lang. Iisa lang naman ang language or wordings ng release order na pinirmahan niya para kay Sanchez at release orders na pinirmahan ni (Corrections Technical chief) Supt. Maria Fe Marquez. Kaibahan lang, na-preempt ng public outcry bago ma-execute ang pagpapakawala kay Sanchez samantalang nakalusot ang release ng 3 convicts sa kaso ng Chiong sisters,” the senator explained.

Marquez heads the Directorate for Reformation and the Head of the Management, Screening & Evaluation Committee. She admitted signing the release orders of the Chiong sisters’ murderers.

Recently, Lacson asked the President to take action on Faeldon who was “recycled” from his previous post as Customs commissioner where he also faced corruption issues, including the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of crystal meth.

Several senators have urged the revision of the GCTA law with the proposal to exclude its grant to detainees who committed heinous crimes.

Lawmakers also wanted to hold involved officials accountable for the release of about 2,000 detainees who committed heinous crimes.

The Senate Blue Ribbon and Justice Committees will continue its investigation Tuesday at 10 a.m.