DAVAO CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday fired Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon for approving the release of controversial several heinous crime convicts.
Duterte called for a press conference and stated the following:
“For the longest time, not really compelled but constrained to do the talking now because as President I have to really be a part of the solution and not the problem. I just had a Cabinet session and I told them of my explanation to the public about the whole thing.
Ito I decided late last night and my orders are: One, that I am demanding the resignation of Faeldon immediately. Second, that I am calling for an investigation to be handled by the Ombudsman.
Anyway, the records are there. It’s very clear. The law is plastered all around and it’s just a matter of an interpretation which to me really is quite equivocal. It can be a subject of so many misleading construction of the sections that are at odds apparently dito sa Section 1 of the law itong sa Good Conduct na batas and Section 1 and Section 3.
Apparently, this was a law in 2014 and they decided to make it operative I would say maybe in 2015. Tingin ko lang because you know you have to publish the laws and everything. From my experience as a President, those are the lag time that it would take for a law to be implemented.
So one is that Faeldon has to go because Faeldon disobeyed my order. But the night before, on 21st I think of August, tinawagan ako ni Secretary — ni ano ni Senator Bong Go. Sabi niya, “There’s an offing problem.” “What is it?”
That itong apparently it was found out because high-profile kasi ang mga na-release: Sanchez and of course ‘yung sa Chiong. I’d like to address myself also to the ‘yung naiwan, those relatives who are grieving until now. Ma’am, kay Mrs. Chiong because she said, “Ano ba itong batas mo?”
Hindi ko po batas ‘yan and it was implemented not during my time. It was started. And it went on without really a clear-cut policy or direction even on the law itself kung sino ang mag-pirma or who will grant with finality ‘yung those who are enjoying their liberty now. Walang sino ni nagsabi magpunta doon sa Secretary of Justice neither Office of the President. We didn’t even know that there were already releases under the law because everybody was presuming to be the correct interpretation.
And it started apparently way back in 20 — at least 2015 I would say, ‘16 tapos ako na ang nag-Presidente. So nandiyan ‘yung batas.
With Faeldon out, I am ordering all who has had the opportunity to be in that committee, all of them are with the BuCor, to report to me and to the Secretary of Justice.
In the meantime, I will not suspend them but they will be investigated. Diretso na ito sa Ombudsman. This is a prima facie case. There’s an admission that they will remiss in their duties. As a former prosecutor tama na ‘yun, that is — that would establish the prima facie.
Then I would address myself ‘yung lahat nakulong at na-release sa batas na ito, 1,700 of you, you surrender and have yourself registered with the BuCor. I will give you 15 days liberty provided you make yourself available anytime that you will called for investigation to have a recomputation or if there’s an investigation of corruption that you cooperate fully.
If you do not, then beginning at this hour, you are a fugitive from justice. And you will be treated as a criminal who is evading the law and well you know things can go wrong. If I were you mag-surrender na kayo to the nearest police or military detachment wherever you are now.”
Faeldon in a statement said “My commander-in-chief/appointing authority has spoken. I am a marine and a marine does as he is told. I most humbly bow to my commander-in-chief’s order without any hard feelings.”-Editha Z. Caduaya/NewsLine.ph
