MORE heinous crime convicts who were released based on the controversial good conduct time allowance (GCTA) have surrendered to the police, bringing the number to 65 as of Sunday, September 8.
In a report, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said the five regions with the highest number of surrenderers as of 8 a.m. Sunday were: Cagayan with 24, Mimaropa with 11, Central Visayas with seven, Bicol with five and and Cordillera and Caraga with four surrenderers each.
Of the 65 surrenderers, 19 were convicted of murder, 26 were convicted of rape, three for robbery with rape and illegal drugs, four for robbery with homicide and two for homicide.
In a statement, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said he is elated by the growing number of heinous crime convicts who have heeded President Rodrigo Duterte's directive to voluntarily surrender to authorities for a re-evaluation and recomputation of their GCTA.
Under Republic Act 10592, GCTA is granted on a monthly basis to persons deprived of liberty (PDL) who show good behavior in a month. This is credited against the prison term of the inmate, thus allowing their early release from prison.
Duterte ordered on Wednesday the recall within 15 days of about 1,700 heinous crime convicts who were released based on GCTA before June 2019 amid the uproar following reports on irregularities in the granting of time allowance.
The convicts were given 15 days to turn themselves in. Duterte has said he was considering a P1-million bounty "dead or alive" on each convict who fails to surrender within 15 days.
Año on Sunday enjoined all local government officials down to the barangay level to assist the PNP in facilitating the voluntary surrender of heinous crime convicts.
"If you are aware of any convict in your area of responsibility, you may escort those who wish to surrender to the nearest Police Station to ensure their safety and well-being. We also call on the public to facilitate the voluntary surrender of these individuals," he said.
Through the Joint Review Committee, both the Justice department and the DILG are reviewing the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 10592 and the BuCor Uniform Manual to plug the loopholes therein and ensure that only those truly deserving are entitled to the GCTA.
After the re-computation of their GCTAs, those who are found to have qualified and served their full sentences in accordance with the intent of the law will be released immediately.
In the meantime, they shall remain in the custody of the BuCor. (SunStar Philippines)