In wake of Sanchez’s case, Sotto seeks review of RA 10592

Republic Act No. 10592, the law which entitles thousands of inmates including murder and rape convict Antonio Sanchez to reduced prison terms and freedom in the coming months, was meant to benefit aging prisoners who showed good behavior behind bars, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said on Thursday.

With Sanchez's reported pending release due to the retroactive implementation of the law enacted in 2013, Sotto filed a resolution seeking a review of the law on good conduct time allowances.

The proposed review and amendments appears to be supported by both Senate leadership and the opposition with Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon filing a similar resolution.

"When we passed it, it was to consider the situation of aging convicts of good behavior," Sotto told reporters.

"It's now being abused so I'm filing a reso to review and amend the law if necessary," he added.

Sotto sought an inquiry in aid of legislation of the following committees: justice and human rights, constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws and other appropriate committee.

‘Remedial legislation’

According to his Resolution No. 107, Sotto said he wanted the inquiry for the purpose of amending the law "to ensure that those prisoners who truly deserve the law's benefits shall be granted the same."

Drilon's Resolution No. 106 sought an inquiry by the Committee on Justice and Human Rights into the "reported eligibility of Antonio Sanchez for an early release from prison with the end in view of ensuring the proper implementation of, and enacting remedial legislation to, Republic Act No. 10592."

RA 10592 was an amendment to the Revised Penal Code in 2013 which provides for the good conduct time allowance (GCTA).

A recent Supreme Court decision gave it a retroactive application which means that other cases that happened before 2013 may also be covered by the said law.

Sotto was Senate Majority Floor Leader when the Senate version of the said law was passed in 2012.

It was authored by Senators Gregorio Honasan II, Manny Villar, Francis Escudero, and Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Senator Sonny Angara, a co-author of the House version of the measure, said that an amendment may be suitable, considering the Sanchez's case.

"The issue here is whether Mayor Sanchez is entitled to these good conduct allowances given his conviction for drug possession while imprisoned and given the gravity of his crimes," Angara said in a statement.

"Assuming he is entitled to these good conduct allowances, we need to amend other portions of the law like section 3 to state that recidivists or repeat offenders should not be entitled to good conduct allowances," he added. —NB, GMA News