Guevarra wants GCTA law amended amid controversy

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday said amendments need to be made on the controversial law extending the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) of prisoners to exclude undeserving inmates.

"I believe that much improvement can be done, but at the level of the Department of Justice, that will not be possible," he said during a Senate hearing.

"My suggestion... is that certain amendments be made to the existing GCTA law."

Guevarra's proposed amendments include a clear classification of whether the law should be on reformative and rehabilitative side, or punitive or retributive, and clear definition of "heinous crimes."

"We came to a conclusion that the intent of the law was to exclude those convicted of heinous crimes, as well as habitual delinquents, escapists, recidivists. But that came only after a tedious and laborous harmonization of the various provisions of this law," he said.

"Had it been clearly stated in one single provision — standalone provision — that the benefits of this law shall not apply to these classes of people, then we'll probably not have a conclusion such as what we have now," he added.

The Senate hearing was conducted after convicted rapist-murderer Antonio Sanchez was reportedly included on the list of those who are set to benefit from the Supreme Court decision that favors a retroactive application to Republic Act 10592, which entitles select inmates to reduced prison terms in exchange for good conduct.

The former Calauan, Laguna mayor was convicted for the 1993 rape and murder of UP Los Baños student Eileen Sarmenta and the murder of her friend Allan Gomez. In 1995, he was sentenced to seven counts of reclusion perpetua (imprisonment for 30 to 40 years), and in 1999 the SC upheld the Pasig Court's ruling.

The government has since clarified that Sanchez is not qualified to benefit from the GCTA. —KBK, GMA News