CEBU CITY – Hurt by reports that three of her daughters’ killers had been released, Thelma Chiong called for the resignation of Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon.
In a text message, Chiong, mother of Marijoy and Jacquiline Chiong who were raped and killed in 1997, said Faeldon had been implicated in too many controversies while holding government positions.
Faeldon had a controversial stint at the Bureau of Customs. As the Customs commissioner, Faeldon was charged by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency after a P6.4-billion shabu shipment slipped into the country in May 2017.
“Dapat mag-resign na si Faeldon. Marami na siya mistake. Faeldon resign na. Imagine mga criminal na hindi dapat lumabas pinalabas niya. What will happen to our country?” Thelma said.
Thelma said she broke down when she heard the news that three of the seven convicts, Josman Aznar, Ariel Balansag, and Alberto Cano, had been released from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. “To Faeldon, makarma sana siya. Tanong ko lang is he making money out of criminals? Parang pay for your freedom and not the good moral conduct issue?” she said.
She is more upset that there is no guarantee that the three convicts will still be sent back to jail.
Thelma said that at 67-years-old, she no longer has the strength to deal with the rigors of taking legal actions to settle the issue. “Hindi na kaya (to file legal action). Ipasa Diyos ko na lahat ito,” said Thelma.
The Chiong sisters were abducted in a mall in Cebu City in 1997. The body of Marijoy was found dumped in a ravine in Carcar City, Cebu, while Jacqueline’s has yet to be found.
The other convicts in the high-profile case were Juan “Paco” Larranaga, James Andrew Uy, James Anthony Uy, and Rowen Adlawan.
In 2009, Larranaga was transferred to Madrid Central Penitentiary prison in Soto del Real, Madrid, Spain as part of the Treaty of Sentenced Persons agreement between the Philippines and Spain. (Calvin D. Cordova)
