(Eagle News)–The partner of an inmate at the New Bilibid Prison testified on Thursday, Sept. 5, that she paid P50000 to Bureau of Corrections officers to secure his freedom.
According to Yolanda Camelon, who faced senators during the third hearing on the Good Conduct Time Allowance, the amount was given to Major Mabel Bansil and Staff Sgt. Ramoncito Roque.
“Sabi ko in what way, ‘yon nga lang magastos. May binanggit siyang certain amount na P50K. Sabi naman niya hindi agad-agad ibibigay, puwede naman daw staggered. Since kaya ko namang hulugan, nagkasundo kami,” Camelon said, recalling an alleged conversation with Bansil.
Camelon said this meeting took place in February, in the minimum security compound of the NBP.
According to Camelon, her partner was supposed to have been freed in March, but this did not take place.
“Sabi niya sa’kin ‘Anong month gusto mong mapalaya asawa mo?’ March, okay po ako ro’n. Nag-agree na po sa usapan na ‘yon… ‘Di niya binilang, basta tiningnan niya lang na nando’n ang pera,” she said.
She was then told that his release would be done in June, but this did not take place.
She said she was told it would be in October.
She said from the 90 days that were supposed to be deducted from his sentence, this became 25 days and then 40.
She said she followed up on her partner’s release but to no avail.
“Nagkita kami (ni Bansil) sa minimum section. No’ng tinatanong ko na siya kung ano ang status, may pinakita siya sa’kin sa cellphone niya, natanggap na ni Sir ang pera. ‘Yon ang pinakita niya sa’king na kay Sir Chito na ang pera,” she said.
Senator Richard Gordon, blue ribbon panel chair, asked her who “Chito” was, at which point she tapped Roque on the shoulder.
She said many other families already paid for the release of their loved ones under the GCTA law.
“Kinakabahan ako sa isip ko pero sa loob ko wala akong dapat ikatakot dahil totoo ang sinasabi ko. Para rin po sa mga nasa loob na naiiwan na tumanda na nandoon na inaabot na ng kamatayan nila. May mga hinigan me mga pinangakuan pero hindi nakalabas,” she said.
In his defense, Roque said he did not ask for the money, and that it was Camelon herself who gave this to him.
He said he returned the money to her.
“Hindi pa. Noong August sabi ko isauli na lang yung pera dahil ipinangutang pa,” Camelon said. Meanne Corvera
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