The shocking revelations on the ruthless corruption at the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) involving the release of heinous criminals by circumventing Republic Act 10592 dramatize the abominable state of our justice system.
This latest Bucor scandal that may have led to the murder of one of the agency’s officials and the widespread corruption in the judiciary grossly violate the rights of the crime victims to fully attain justice and closure.
The attempt to free former Calauan, Laguna mayor Antonio Sanchez turned out to be just one of the illegal releases of hardened criminals from the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa as ordered by BuCor under director Nicanor Faeldon.
It surfaced that several convicts in the Chiong Sisters rape-slay case have been released among nearly 2,000 convicted murderers, rapists, armed robbers, kidnappers, illegal drug traffickers and arsonists since the enactment of RA 10592 in 2013.
Up to 22,000 Bilibid inmates had been freed earlier than they should for “good conduct” and at least 11,000 more convicts may be out on the streets sometime soon, as beneficiaries of RA 10592.
Meanwhile, the questionable decision of the court to grant bail to former Daraga, Albay mayor Carlwyn Baldo shocked the widowed family of slain AKO-Bicol Party-list congressman Rodel Batocabe last December 2018.
Baldo is charged with double murder for the daylight ambush-killing of Batocabe and his police aide during a gathering with senior citizens in Daraga.
Now, how in the world did the court come up with the justification to allow Baldo to post P6 million bail despite the supposedly non-bailable double murder case?
These are but a few of the many, many cases that demonstrate the disheartening plight of victims of crime and terrorism as a marginalized sector.
Crime victims, especially the poor, have always been the underdogs up against the formidable force of criminal personalities, including powerful, influential, rich politicians who employ legal luminaries as counsel, as well as private armies.
In the light of all these, why doesn't Congress pass a Magna Carta of Crime Victims to uphold and protect the legal and human rights of crime and terrorist victims?
Such a law will serve as a guiding principle, as it shall spell out and define rights and privileges of crime victims from the time one seeks help from the police complaint desk, the apprehension of suspects, the investigation of the case, filing of the case and its litigation, and the conviction and incarceration of the crime’s perpetrator.
Some say people should have compassion for these convicts for they have already suffered and paid their debts to society.
What about those victims of heinous crimes? Can we bring them back to life so they can be with their loves ones once again? I don't think so.
