TWO of the three freed Chiong 7 convicts of the rape-slay of sisters Marijoy and Jacqueline Chiong turned themselves in, two days after President Rodrigo Duterte demanded their surrender within 15 days.
Ariel Balansag and Alberto Caño, who were granted early release last month under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law, surrendered on Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, and are now detained in the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
“Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has confirmed their surrender. Based on the Bureau’s report, the two have been processed for re-commitment and are already inside (the) bilibid,” Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete told SunStar Cebu via text message.
On Wednesday, Sept. 4, Duterte issued a 15-day ultimatum for the surrender within 15 days of some 1,914 freed heinous crime convicts who benefited from the GCTA system.
“P1 million per head, dead or alive,” Duterte said in a press conference.
Thelma Chiong, the mother of Marijoy and Jacqueline, said she is happy with this development.
“Lipay kaayo ko oy kay at least di na ta mangita nila ba. Kusa ra jud sila ni surrender. Maayo jud sila kaayo. Nahadlok sad sila, wala pay 15 days. Naa jud tingali nakatambag nila (I am really happy with this, at least we don’t have to look for them anymore. Maybe they feared for their lives since the 15-day ultimatum is not yet up),” she said.
However, she said the BuCor should come out with a complete list of those released for good behavior to monitor the other three Chiong 7 convicts—Rowen Adlawan and brothers James Anthony and James Andrew Uy--who are still incarcerated. Francisco Juan Larrañaga was moved to a prison in Spain in 2009 yet.
“They should provide us with the list of those released. We have no idea if the other three convicts are still in jail or have been freed too. We are not the only ones afraid and are wondering what happened to others convicted of heinous crimes,” Thelma said in Cebuano.
She also called on Josman Aznar, who was also released under the GCTA system with Balansag and Caño, to also surrender.
“Josman, pauli na. Surrender na. Mao ra man na gihapon kay pangitaon man ka (Go back to prison. Surrender. Authorities will be looking for you),” she said.
In a separate interview, Dusadio del Rosario Jr., BuCor information officer, said they have yet to get a furnished copy (from their Document Section) of the list of freed convicts under the GCTA law.
Phoebe Comon, 31, Caño’s youngest sister, said they are happy that their brother turned himself in.
“We still have to consider if we will visit him in Manila. At least we are happy that he already surrendered. We need not worry anymore,” she said.
Meanwhile, Thelma said Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Debold Sinas assured her of her family’s safety.
“When General Sinas and I talked, he said we need not fear because the police will monitor us,” she said.
Perete said convicts who committed heinous crimes but were still released for good behavior need to serve the entirety of their sentence since their release was considered premature.
“Since they are still to be considered as prisoners, as to that class of convicts, pwede silang ibalik (they can be jailed again) immediately,” he said. (WBS)