A SIXTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD convict turned himself in to authorities in San Isidro, Northern Samar following the order of President Rodrigo Duterte for convicted persons freed under the controversial implementation of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law to voluntarily surrender.

Police said Justiniano Gregorio, farmer and a resident of Barangay Poblacion Norte, San Isidro town, voluntarily surrendered to the San Isidro Municipal Police officers on September 11.

Gregorio was one of the inmates who was released through GCTA.

He was detained on September 30, 1991 in Iwahig, Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan for the crime of illegal possession of firearm and violation of section 4 of Republic Act 6425 or The Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972. He was convicted on April 8, 1996 and sentenced to 20 years to life (maximum) imprisonment.

However, he was released on February 20, 2019 after he availed himself of the GCTA law based on the order of release signed by Corrections Superintendent Arturo Sabadisto.

He is now under the custody of San Isidro Municipal Police Station, while the documentation is still in progress.

As of Friday, September 13, Gregorio is the fifth GCTA-freed convict who surrendered to authorities in Eastern Visayas. (SunStar Philippines)