“The claim that too many criminals are being jailed, that there is over-incarceration, ignores an unfortunate fact: For the vast majority of crimes, a perpetrator is never identified or arrested, let alone prosecuted, convicted, and jailed.” –Senator Tom Cotton
Following many of the sensational crimes of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, some perpetrators were permitted by corrupt officials to be released on “special assignment.” After committing various crimes, they return to their cells like nothing happened. The crimes were nearly perfect and the deception puzzled investigators—either jail officials were masterminding robberies or they were bribed by syndicates to kill rivals.
Some jails (or “rehabilitation centers”) are not only managed by corrupt and incompetent officials, they are also shelters for hired killers who are pampered and directed by scoundrels that are paid by taxpayers to secure and manage our prison system.
According to stories published since last week, the Bureau of Correction has reportedly released some 1,914 inmates convicted of committing heinous crimes on the grounds of RA 10592, an amendment to the Revised Penal Code referred to as the “Good Conduct Time Allowance Law.” While it is unclear who these nearly 2,000 free prisoners are, some are known to be Chinese nationals convicted of drug trafficking, notorious kidnappers, crime kingpins, rapists, bank robbers, serial killers, among others who otherwise should not be eligible for the provisions of the law.
Given the current state of affairs, many have asked if Roberta ‘Obing’ Cokin’s killers are still behind bars?
Her case was the most sensationalized case in the Western Visayas in the 1990s and, unless the Bureau of Correction releases the names of all the released inmates, the public may never know is former Major Rolando Maclang, Juliet Haresco, former Airman Second Class Charlito Domingo, Ronaldo Porquez, and John Mamarion are still detained at the National Bilibid Prison.
Cokin was kidnapped in Bacolod City on July 15, 1995. The kidnappers initially demanded P2 million in ransom but the National Bureau of Investigation reportedly bungled the payoff. The victim’s decomposing body was later found in Anilao, Iloilo in August 1995.
The assailants’ convictions were affirmed by the Supreme Court in 2003 and initially faced the death penalty until President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo commuted all death sentences to life sentences before abolishing the practice.
There was also the case of Ricky Braga, who was convicted of killing US Peace Corps volunteer Robert John Bock and nine Ilonggos on August 12, 1998 in Sara, Iloilo. He, his cousin Feliciano Braga, and Ernesto Brito were sentenced to life in prison; while his sister Louella and her husband, Roy Donesa, were sentenced for up to 10 years for harboring the assailant after the crime.
Aside from Bock, Julioceto Aspera, Warlito Avanturado, Francisco Castroverde, Jose Garcia, Jr., Elvis Lamsin, Robert Pantin, Jonathan Sotic, along with Eduardo Sortigoza and his pregnant wife Angela were also killed.
The victims were gunned down as their vehicles passed through a neighborhood in Sara.
***
Alex P. Vidal, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo./WDJ