CORRECTION officers accused of involvement in the payment of “grease money” to expedite the release of a service firearm to a colleague have posted bail.
The Chief of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Armory, Alex Hizola, along with Corrections Officers Arcel Acejo Janero and Henry Escrupolo, posted bail in the amount of P60,000 after the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court issued arrest warrants against them for direct bribery, according to a published report on abogado.ph
Janero and Escrupolo were apprehended in separate entrapment operations. Janero was caught in Barangay Poblacion, Muntinlupa City, shortly after receiving marked currency totaling P6,500.
The complaint originated from a fellow Corrections officer who revealed that Janero had solicited this sum in exchange for the release of a short firearm from the BuCor Armory.
During the entrapment operation, authorities confiscated from Janero a Glock 17 Gen4 9mm pistol, three magazines, 55 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, assorted identification cards, P19,420 in cash, a body bag, and a cellular phone.
Upon his arrest, Janero alleged that he intended to pass the money to Escrupolo, who serves as the head of the escorting unit.
Following this revelation, BuCor, in collaboration with the police, conducted another entrapment operation targeting Escrupolo.
During this operation, authorities seized a Glock 17 Gen 4 9mm pistol, three magazines, one extended magazine, 69 rounds of live ammunition, a BuCor identification card, and a cellular phone from Escrupolo.
Meanwhile, BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. emphasized that this case should serve as an example and warning to all BuCor personnel.
“We will not tolerate any wrongdoings in the agency, and we will continue our relentless drive to eliminate undesirables from the organization,” Catapang stated.
