AUTHORITIES are ready to launch a massive manhunt against heinous crime convicts who were released due to the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law and did not surrender within the 15-day grace period given by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Earlier, Duterte has given those who benefited from the GCTA law an ultimatum to turn themselves in to the police for the recomputation and investigation to determine whether corruption played a role on their release.

The deadline for the convicts to surrender has ended Wednesday, September 18. Those who did not show up are considered as fugitives.

Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao spokesperson Police Major Jayson Baria, during the AFP-PNP press forum at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, said they already formed tracker teams per Provincial Police Office and in Davao City Police Office (DCPO) who will conduct the operation. However, they are just waiting for the go signal coming from the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“With DCPO, they are already prepared for the conduct of manhunt. We’re just waiting for the final say of the higher headquarters para uniform po lahat,” Baria said.

A total of 76 heinous crime convicts were listed in the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) whose residences are in Davao Region but only six have so far surrendered in different police stations under PRO-Davao and four of which are in Davao City.

The implementation of Republic Act 10592 which increases “good conduct time allowance” of prisoners elicited public outrage following the announcement of the pending release of convicted rapist-killer Antonio Sanchez.

Asked on the P1-million bounty for those who can capture the fugitives, he said that they are thankful for the reward but assured that they will only perform their duty.

“Very thankful kami dahil sa trabaho namin meron pang additional aside [our salary], [on] part sa informant sa makabigay [ng information] din [at] sa makahuli meron din. Every person baka paghati-hatian yon ng informant and arresting officers nila. Very thankful kami kasi aside sa salary meron pa kaming reward,” Baria said.

They are also urging those who did not surrender within the given timeline to cooperate with arresting officers to prevent any untoward incident.