Hunt for GCTA-freed convicts in Tondo yields man jailed for rape

A rape convict who was released due to good conduct time allowance (GCTA) is going back to jail after failing to turn himself in to authorities within the 15-day "grace period" set by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The so-called "fugitive" from justice was arrested by a tracker team of the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 2 early Friday morning in Moriones, Tondo, just a few hours after the deadline expired Thursday at midnight.

According to Vonne Aquino's report on GMA News' Unang Balita, the rape convict who was released in 2016 said GCTA shaved a year off of his nine-year prison sentence.

He is now set to be turned over to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

"Syempre po, masakit," the convict told the press after his arrest.

"May trabaho na ho ako eh, ilang taon na po akong nasa laya...ngayon, masisira na po 'yung trabaho ko."

Cops went after the convict even without an arrest warrant as he was among inmates who were freed through GCTA but did not heed President Duterte's order to surrender to authorities within 15 days.

"Sinabi na po ni Presidente 'yan na warrantless arrest na po," the head of the MPD Station 2's tracker team, Police Captain Elvin Tio, said.

"Kasi po they have been declared officially by the President fugitives from the law exactly at 12:01 kanina pong madaling araw." —Margaret Claire Layug/LBG, GMA News