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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Killing of BuCor's ex- top lawyer is GCTA-related - Gordon

Killing of BuCor's ex- top lawyer is GCTA-related - Gordon

Published Feb 21, 2020 12:00 am
By Hannah Torregoza  Senator Richard Gordon on Friday expressed belief that the killing of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) legal chief Fredric Anthony Santos is related to the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) controversy. Senator Richard Gordon ( Jansen Romero / File | Manila Bulletin) Senator Richard Gordon (JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) In an interview on GMA’s Unang Hirit, Gordon said perpetrators of Santos’ killing probably want to prevent him from becoming a state witness. Gordon, who led the Senate justice and human rights inquiry into the GCTA controversy, said that while he has no idea what Santos could have divulged had he been given a chance to become a state witness, it may be about his knowledge of the corruption within the bureau. “Of course, he knows a lot. Remember, he is the one in charge of notarizing all the papers of the prisoners. He is close to the prisoners,” he said. Possibly too, there could have been broken promises and failed deals, and Santos could have already gotten a huge amount of money from those whom he promised to release from prison but failed to do so, Gordon said. “He was releasing and releasing prisoners …but news that former Calauan, Laguna mayor Antonio Sanchez was among those included in the GCTA list suddenly blew up,” the senator said. “Of course, everyone will be panicking. Money could have already been exchanged along the way, and that eventually cost him his life,” Gordon pointed out. Santos was shot dead by still unidentified gunmen who were riding in tandem a few meters away from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City in front of the school where he was supposed to pick up his daughter. He was one of the witnesses who testified on the GCTA issue when Sanchez, who was convicted in 1993 for the rape and murder of Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Sanchez, was reported to be part of the list of convicted prisoners who will be released based on good conduct credits. In September last year, Santos and 29 other prison officials were placed under preventive suspension. READ MORE: Bucor official linked to GCTA mess shot dead in Muntinlupa city
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