DOJ: More than 500 convicts released due to GCTA have surrendered

More than 500 convicts who were previously released based on recomputed good conduct time allowances have voluntarily surrendered to authorities as of Saturday, a Department of Justice official said on Sunday.

"As of yesterday, mahigit 500 na 'yung voluntary na sumuko sa mga awtoridad," DOJ spokesperson and Undersecretary Markk Perete said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV aired on GMA News TV.

Usec. Perete: As of yesterday, mahigit 500 na yung voluntary na sumuko sa mga otoridad. (GCTA beneficiaries). https://t.co/Jl7zdrja0g

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 14, 2019

Differing numbers

The Philippine National Police has a different count, reporting that as of 6 p.m. on Sunday, September 15, the number of returning convicts stands at 432. 

These include 139 individuals convicted of murder, 130 of rape, 42 of robbery with homicide, 29 of homicide, 18 of dangerous drugs, and 14 of rape with homicide.

The Bureau of Corrections, on the other hand, said that it now has 595 returning convicts in its custody as of 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Duterte ultimatum

On September 4, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered prisoners who have been released because of good conduct credits under Republic Act 10592 to surrender and register themselves with the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) in 15 days.

Duterte said such former inmates would be treated as fugitives from justice if they would not do so.

The BuCor found itself amid a controversy after the release of close to 2,000 inmates convicted of heinous crimes on the basis of good conduct-based reductions to their prison terms. The agency released them based on RA 10592, the law providing for reduced sentences due to good conduct.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo however said the GCTA law excludes recidivists, habitual delinquents, escapees and persons charged with heinous crimes from its coverage.

Convicts of heinous crimes who were released on the basis of good conduct-based reductions to their prison terms should be brought back to jail, Malacañang said.

IRR

Perete said the amended implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of RA 10592 have been submitted to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año for their review.

[CORRECTION] Usec. Perete: Na-submit na po ang amended IRR ng R.A. 10592 kina Sec. Guevarra at Sec. Año. https://t.co/Jl7zdrja0g

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 14, 2019

"Based on the contents on the amended IRR, as long as aprubado ito ng ating secretaries, maaari na po itong magamit sa computation ng GCTA," Perete added.

"Ang ginawa kasi ng joint review committee, nilagay na du'n sa bawat section kung sino ang disqualified. May dalawang uri kasi ng GCTA: GCTA for preventive imprisonment at GCTA sa conviction," he explained.

"Ginawan din natin ng definition ang heinous crimes," the DOJ official added.

"'Yung transparency provisions nilagay natin sa guidelines na kailangan i-adopt ng monitoring and implementing committee. Kasama ang publication and ma-involve ang civil society sa deliberation," Perete said.

[CORRECTION] Usec. Perete: Na-submit na po ang amended IRR ng R.A. 10592 kina Sec. Guevarra at Sec. Año. https://t.co/Jl7zdrja0g

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 14, 2019

"Hopefully kung ma-okay nila ito, this will be signed and it will be published so it will be effective," he said.

Perete said a meeting has been scheduled on Monday to explain the provisions.

The IRR will take effect 15 days after it has been published in a newspaper of general circulation. —KG, GMA News