Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, said the Ombudsman should have also indicted higher-ranked BuCor officials involved in the Good Conduct Time Allowance scam.
"We are sure that there are still others involved who should be prosecuted," he said.
"They should have cast a wider net. Even higher officials should have been prosecuted like former BUCor Director (Nicanor) Faeldon," Gordon said.
"Strike two na siya diyan. Pati iyong mga doktor na nagpapabayad at nagpapalabas ng tao, dapat pati sila ma-prosecute. Pati yung chief legal," he noted.
However, Gordon commended the Office of the Ombudsman for acting promptly in dismissing and indicting three officials of the Bureau of Correction who were accused of extorting P50,000 from a Bilibid inmate in exchange for his early release.
"It's a good turn from the Ombudsman. I'm glad that the Ombudsman moves fast and sends a strong signal," said Gordon whose committee investigated the GCTA for sale scheme.
Ombudsman Samuel Martires issued a resolution dismissing from public office former BuCor documentations chief Ramoncito Roque, as well as Maria Belinda Bansil and Veronica Buno.
They were also indicted for one count of direct bribery under Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) and one count of Violation of Section 3(e) of R.A 3019. The three were also perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
Their retirement benefits were forfeited, while their civil service eligibility was canceled.
The charges against the three will be filed before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC).
The Ombudsman's action stemmed from a Senate inquiry that the Justice and Human Rights Committee conducted jointly with the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers & Investigations (Blue Ribbon) on the capricious, arbitrary, and abusive implementation of the said law, which was bared to the public following the botched premature release of former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez, who was sentenced to seven counts of reclusion perpetua for the 1993 rape-slay of UP Los Banos students Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez. Gordon is chairman of both Senate committees.
