LESS than a week before the ultimatum given by President Rodrigo Duterte expires, the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao said that only five out of 76 convicts who were freed under the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) in Davao region surrendered as of yesterday, September 13.

PRO-Davao spokesperson Major Jason Baria said there were already four who have surrendered to Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and one in Davao del Sur.

When asked why only a few have surrendered, he could only surmise that the heinous crime convicts might be seizing their remaining freedom.

The pronouncement of the President was made on September 3 and they are expecting more surrenderers by September 18, the last day of the ultimatum. By September 19, those who did not surrender will be treated as fugitives and will be subjected to manhunt operations for their rearrest.

Based on a recent DCPO report, two recipients of GCTA Program have surrendered and were endorsed to Calinan and Tugbok Police Station as a joint effort with the Regional Intelligence Unit 11.

They were identified as Ian Jeferson Caasi Asoy, 31, sentenced on June 22, 2011 to serve from six to 14 years imprisonment for rape case and Julius Jamandoron Apud, 48, sentenced to reclusion perpetua for a murder case.

Asoy was released on May 5, 2019 while Apud was released on August 12, 2016. Both will be transported to Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF) in Davao Del Norte.